Camy, with a great rattling and tossing of saddle sacks, trotted into
the circle around the palm tree. "And what dost thou here? All the
way from the Sultan's castle I've followed the tracks of Stampedro,
and at last I have found you all." With a weary sigh, he looked from
one to the other. Then, suddenly missing Speedy, he peered anxiously
over the Camel's hump. "Where's the boy?" he asked sharply. Without
answering they pointed up at the palm tree. Then Marygolden and Peter
together told how Speedy had escaped from Samandra, had cleverly stolen
Confido and had discovered the whereabouts of the magic date seed and,
following the little dog's directions, had been carried aloft with the
magic palm.
"How now, and we'll soon end this," grunted Sir Hokus, and tumbling
without ceremony off Camy's back, he lifted his battle-axe. "I'll fell
this monstrous tree."
"Stop! Stop! That were indeed a fell deed.
If he fell all that way,
He'd be smashed, 'lack-a-day!"
"If you take _my_ advice," yawned the little dog, curling up more
cozily in Marygolden's arms, "you'll do nothing." This brought a burst
of indignation from Speedy's comrades, but as they stood arguing, the
palm tree began to grow down, sliding silently into the earth like a
great greased pole. As the leaves at the top came into view, and before
they touched the ground, Speedy leapt from the center and the palm
leaves were instantly swallowed up in the earth.
"I've got them," panted the boy, triumphantly waving a bunch of ripe
dates. "All six! Say, when did you come?" Rushing over to Sir Hokus,
he clapped him joyfully on the back. "Say, now that we're all together
nothing can molest us again!"
"Right!" boomed Sir Hokus. "And with a lad like yourself to help, we'll
soon have the King in his castle. A clever move to bring the little
dog. Odds bodikens! You'll be knighted for this!"
"But what happened to you?" breathed Speedy. "And is this really the
Comfortable Camel of Oz?"
"At your service," mumbled Camy, beginning to nibble at the twigs
and smiling kindly between mouthfuls as Sir Hokus introduced Speedy,
Marygolden, and Stampedro. "But I hope never to find myself in Samandra
again. What a dumb place, and what a place to be dumb!"
"I agree with you," whinnied Stampedro, pawing the earth at the very
thought. "But tell us, Sir Knight, how you came off so successfully."
"Easily enough," exclaimed Sir Hokus, leaning heavily on his lance.
"Guided by my nose, which has ever been as keen as my sword, I soon
located the Sultan's Camel Quarters. Knocking Samandrans right and
left" (he gave a little pantomime of just how this had been done) "I
called loudly for Camy, who immediately answered my hail. Though he
could not talk I recognized his voice and soon had him loose. Then I
headed straight for this forest, picking up the footprints of Stampedro
soon after I left the castle, and came hot-foot after you."
"You mean I came hot-foot," chuckled the Comfortable Camel, winking at
Peter Pun.
"Have it your own way," smiled Sir Hokus. "But here we all are, and now
that we have the magic dates, let us proceed with the disenchantment of
this King and his subjects. Then if yon villainous Sultan rides after
us, there'll be plenty of good men to fight."
"That's an idea," breathed Speedy. "I forgot about the Sultan. Now tell
us, Confido, what do we do next?"
"It's long past my bedtime," sniffed the pampered little Peke. "I
don't see any cushions to sleep on, and why should I bother my head
about this silly King and his subjects? He never did anything for me!"
At this heartless speech Stampedro put back his ears, showed all his
teeth, and had to be held by Sir Hokus to keep him from biting a piece
out of the Imperial Puppy. And though Speedy and Peter Pun coaxed and
commanded, Confido answered all their questions with yawns, and finally
closing his eyes pretended to snore. Then Marygolden, giving him a
little shake, began to whisper in his ear.
"This King will no doubt reward you handsomely," promised the Princess
recklessly. "He'll give you golden bowls, and collars, and anything you
wish, if you release him from this cruel enchantment."
"That's so," muttered Confido, opening his eyes and wriggling his nose.
"I hadn't thought of that. And since _you_ have asked me, Princess,
here goes. Take the smallest date," he directed, in his insolent little
voice, "eat the date and bury the seed as you did before."
"What?" cried Speedy impatiently. "All that to do over again?" Confido
nodded. Speedy was not at all fond of ripe dates, but he was so curious
to see what would happen that he swallowed it down without a murmur and
buried the seed, this time a brilliant red stone, beneath a tall oak.
Then, breathless and expectant, the little company of rescuers stood
back to watch and listen.
Of all his wonderful experiences, Speedy remembered the scene in the
enchanted forest best. It seemed, while it was happening, like some
strange, bewildering dream. For suddenly the murmur and whisper of the
leaves became the murmur and whisper of many voices. The great oak
dwindled and changed to a King so tall, straight, and handsome that
a little cry of admiration burst from Speedy's lips. Oaks and pines
all around them melted into Knights, hale, hearty, and splendid, with
gleaming lances and shining armor. From the horse chestnut trees,
stamping, prancing steeds charged in a glittering array, tossing their
heads, whinnying, neighing, and calling joyfully for their riders.
Stampedro was off in an instant, bounding here and there among the
Knights, but finding nowhere the one he was seeking. Saplings, while
Speedy and Marygolden gasped and marvelled, became laughing troops
of merry children, old bent trees turned into councillors and wise
men of the Court. Bushes became pages and seneschals bearing flaming
torches. The willows by the river were the Queen and her ladies, in
great green ruffs like Marygolden had worn, in velvet and lace and the
long trailing dresses of long ago. One would have thought that not a
tree would remain standing in the whole forest, but the enchanted ones
were hardly missed. A sage bush became a sage, in fact. The lyre bush
that had so puzzled Sir Hokus, was the King's minstrel, and striking
his small harp he began instantly to sing. The trumpet vines became
trumpeters, and while the little band of adventurers gazed in rapture
and delight, the King found the Queen, and putting his arm around her,
raised his hand for silence.
[Illustration: IT SEEMED LIKE SOME BEWILDERING DREAM.]
"Corumbians!" cried the King in his grave, deep voice. "By some
unexplained miracle we have been released from our wearisome
enchantment. Is my son, the Yellow Knight of Oz in this company?" There
was a tense silence and everyone looked expectantly around, but the
Yellow Knight neither spoke nor answered.
[Illustration: THE WILLOWS WERE THE QUEEN AND HER LADIES.]
"I know," cried the Queen, suddenly clapping her hands. "The Prince
awaits us in the castle!"
"To the castle! On to the castle!" roared the Corumbians, swarming
round their Majesties.
"All the King's horses and all the King's men,
And all the King's court are together again!"
mused Peter Pun, and breaking away from Sir Hokus and Speedy, he
hurried over to the King and flung both arms about his knees. The
King seemed as rejoiced to see Peter as the jester was to see him,
and lifting him up embraced him heartily. Then Peter, for the moment
serious and strangely dignified, turned from the King and called
loudly. "Under yonder oak stand the liberators of us all: Speedy, a
boy from far-off America, Sir Hokus of Pokes from the Emerald City, an
enchanted Princess, the Comfortable Camel of Oz, and our own Stampedro!"
"Don't forget me," barked Confido temperishly. "I'm about the most
important person here!" But in the cheering and confusion following
Peter's announcement, no one even heard the little dog. Marygolden,
Speedy, and Sir Hokus were tossed up on the shoulders of the crowd and
borne triumphantly to the Golden Castle. Two Knights led Camy, and two
more walked beside Stampedro, and the flare of the torches, the blare
of the trumpets, and neighing of the war horses made it a noisy and
memorable march. As they entered the tumble-down and ruined courtyard,
the page boys on the tower again blew upon their golden horns.
"The salute to my son!" exclaimed the King of Corumbia breathlessly.
"My son, the Yellow Knight, must be somewhere near." Scarcely noting
the ruin and decay in his palace, the King rushed inside. A little
silence fell upon the company as by the light of the torches they
looked upon the wild and weedy castle. Softly the Queen began to weep,
hiding her face in her long green veil. Seeing this, Speedy slid
quickly from the shoulder of the Knight who carried him.
"The same magic that restored your Majesty and your Majesty's subjects
will restore the castle," he assured the Queen eagerly.
"Yes, tell us what to do now, Confido," begged Marygolden from her high
perch on another Knight's shoulder. "This small dog knows the secret of
all the Sultan's enchantments," the Princess told them seriously, "and
is going to help restore the castle."
"Hola, for the Sultan's dog!" roared the Knights and courtiers, and
cheered so loud and long that Confido felt that at last he was being
properly valued and appreciated. And this time, without even waiting to
be coaxed, he told what was to be done.
"Let the King of Corumbia eat the smallest date on the stalk. Let a
fire be kindled in the dining hall and the seed of the date cast into
the fire," directed Confido, waving his paw commandingly. The King, by
this time convinced that his son was not in the castle, had returned,
and quickly followed the little dog's instructions. A fire was kindled
by the servants in the great dining hall, and as the date seed fell
upon the flames there came a crackling and trembling throughout the
whole castle! Before the eyes of the assembled courtiers and Knights,
the walls straightened, tapestries became shining and bright, rugs
soft and whole. Flowers appeared in the vases, and the long oak table
running down the center of the tall hall suddenly groaned under the
weight of silver, china and a hundred tempting viands. From the
kitchens came the odor of roasting meats and browning tarts. Everything
was in a moment exactly as it had been five hundred years before, when
the Sultan had cast his wicked spell over Corumbia. With a cry of
pleasure and delight, the Queen seized Speedy's hand.
"And now, gracious youth!" begged her Majesty. "Restore my son, and no
more will I ever ask of thee."
"Bring back the Yellow Knight!" trumpeted Stampedro, who had trotted
into the palace and was standing with Camy beside the King. "I can no
longer endure this separation." Speedy, as anxious as anyone to see
this long missing Prince, turned quickly to Confido, but this time
Confido regretfully shook his head.
"The King's son cannot be disenchanted until morning! When the castle
clocks strike ten, the Queen must eat the smallest of the remaining
dates and fling the seed from the tallest tower. Then, and then only,
will the King's son return."
"Are you sure he will be safely restored to us?" asked the Queen.
"As sure as I am of the reward I will receive from your gracious
Majesties," murmured Confido, rolling his round little eyes at the King
and his Royal Consort. Speedy and Peter exchanged amused glances at
Confido's speech, but the King, after earnestly assuring the little dog
of his willingness to bestow upon him anything whatsoever he desired,
raised his right hand for silence.
"As we must wait until morning before the last and final enchantment
can be broken, let us feast and be merry while we wait. But first, let
a guard be set around the castle, lest that rascally Sultan attack
us in the night. These travellers," the King waved graciously in the
direction of Speedy and his comrades, "these travellers have come a
long way and have grown weary and hungry in our service. Let us refresh
and entertain them and hear from their own lips the strange adventures
which brought about our miraculous release."
"'Tis a merry tale and wags like a donkey's ears," said the jester,
shaking his belled stick gaily. "Tell them, Speedy, all that has
happened to you and to us since you fell in the Skyrocket to
Subterranea and discovered the Princess made of gold. And tell them,
Sir Knight, all that happened since you set forth upon your quest and
came into the enchanted forest yonder."
"Nay! Nay! First let them eat and rest!" And moving toward the head
of the long oak table, the King placed Speedy on his right, Sir Hokus
on his left, and Marygolden beside the Queen. Stampedro and Camy had
golden tables piled with ripe apples and crisp carrots, and Confido
was given a golden bowl of cream and chicken hearts, and never in his
proudest days in Samandra had the little dog been so fussed over and
petted. When at last Speedy could eat no more, and the whole merry
company could tuck away not even one more tart, the boy and Sir Hokus
related their strange experiences and adventures. The Corumbians
listened spellbound, and could one blame them? After questions,
exclamations and praise enough to satisfy even Confido, the travellers
expressed a desire for bed. So the King, calling loudly for lights,
himself conducted them to the Royal Guest Chambers, and bade them an
affectionate good-night. Marygolden and Confido had a little yellow
room next to the Queen's own chamber. Sir Hokus and Speedy had a whole
apartment in the tower, and Camy and Stampedro spent the night in
the courtyard, exchanging strange experiences and boasting of their
respective masters.
"I wonder," sighed Speedy, giving his pillow a final thump, "why there
are four dates left instead of three. It will take only one to restore
the Yellow Knight. What about those others?" (I've been wondering that
very thing myself, haven't you?)
"I trust," wheezed Sir Hokus, just before he dozed off, "I trust that
rascally Sultan will ride this way. There's nothing I should like
better than a raging battle, in which I shall give myself the pleasure
of tweaking his nose! Odds tarts and turnips! His NOSE!"
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE RETURN OF THE YELLOW KNIGHT
"This is the day we're going to see the Yellow Knight, Confido. Aren't
you excited?" Marygolden hopped out of her canopied bed and fairly
danced into the ruffled robe and flowered silk dress the Queen's lady
in waiting had brought in to her.
"Knights, yellow or red, mean nothing to me," yawned the little dog,
rolling over lazily. "But I do wonder what the Sultan is doing by this
time. I'll wager the old bore misses me like fury."
"Why bother about him?" said Marygolden, combing her yellow curls
briskly. "You belong to me, now. We're going to America and you need
never return to Samandra at all. Don't you like me a little bit,
Confido?"
"Well, rather," admitted the little dog cautiously. "But you must carry
me every place you go and see that I have plenty of cream and chicken."
"All right," agreed Marygolden good-naturedly. "But come on, let's see
what Speedy and Sir Hokus are doing." Tucking the Peke under her arm,
Marygolden ran gaily down to the courtyard. Speedy and the Knight had
been up for hours, and seated on a gold bench near a sparkling fountain
were discussing the possibility of a surprise attack by the Sultan,
and the probable uses of the remaining dates. It was astonishing to
see the castle that but yesterday had lain so dusty and lifeless now
bustling with sound and activity. Gardeners in quaint green coats were
clipping the early roses, pages and footmen stepped importantly about,
and everything was going on exactly as it had done five hundred years
before, when the Sultan's transformations had taken place.
"Well," mused Speedy, waving cheerfully to Marygolden, "as soon as the
Yellow Knight is restored, we'd better be heading for the Emerald City.
It's great fun here, but Uncle Billy must be dreadfully worried by this
time, and I ought to be getting back. I'll certainly miss you and Peter
and Stampedro, but there'll be Marygolden to remind me of Oz."
"And a mighty sweet reminder," smiled Sir Hokus, rising gallantly as
the little Princess dropped on the bench beside them. "Dids't rest
well, maiden?"
"Yes, indeed," said Marygolden, ruffling up Confido's soft fur. "But I
can hardly wait to see the Yellow Knight. Is it almost time, Sir Hokus?"
"Just one hour to ten," answered Sir Hokus, squinting up at the great
clock on the tower. "Cans't wait that long, Princess?"
"Lords and Ladies now awaken,
Come to breakfast, buns and bacon,
Tarts and toast! What ho! What hey!
Will ye tarry here all day?"
shouted Peter Pun, cartwheeling up to the bench.
"Let's go now, while the bacon's hot," wheezed Confido, scratching
Marygolden on the arm. "And don't forget my bowl of cream. Is there
plenty of cream--thick, yellow cream, person?"
"Barrels," Peter assured him gravely. "Cream for the Imperial
Houndling!" called the jester, capering ahead of the visitors. "Cream
in cups, saucers, and pudding bowls!" Breakfast, in spite of the
anxiety of the King and Queen of Corumbia to see their son, was a
sumptuous and merry affair. Speedy, his plate heaped with roast wild
fowl, crisp buns, and fresh strawberry tarts, with a footman behind his
chair to anticipate his slightest wish, reflected that there would be
many times when he would miss all this castle and king stuff. The King,
himself, was bubbling over with jollity, joking every other minute with
Peter Pun; but the Queen scarcely ate a mouthful, and kept glancing
nervously at the clock over the mantel. At ten minutes of the hour she
could endure the suspense no longer.
"Are you sure it was ten and not before?" she asked, looking anxiously
at Confido, who was lapping up his fifth bowl of cream.
"Quite sure," answered the Sultan's dog calmly. "But since your
Highness must ascend to the tallest tower, perhaps you had better start
ascending."
[Illustration: THE MAGIC STONE STRUCK THE SILVER BREASTPLATE OF SIR
HOKUS.]
"Here's the date," said Speedy, handing the smallest one on the bunch
to the Queen. "I'm going out into the courtyard with Stampedro," he
cried, pushing back his chair. "Come on, Marygolden! Come on, Sir
Hokus! Come on, Peter!" Followed by half the courtiers and servants,
the three hurried out of the castle, and presently they gave a loud
cheer, for high above their heads on the balcony of the castle's
tallest tower, stood the King and Queen. Stampedro had been waiting
for this hour since dawn, and fairly pranced with restlessness and
impatience. As the golden bells in the tower started musically to toll,
every face turned upward. Speedy and Marygolden, close to the Yellow
Knight's charger, clasped hands nervously, and Sir Hokus, who held
Stampedro's bridle, snatched off his helmet the better to see this long
lost Prince of Corumbia. As the tenth stroke pealed from the tower,
the Queen, who had already eaten the date, tossed the magic stone over
the balcony rail. Like a falling star it sped downward, struck the
silver breastplate of Sir Hokus of Pokes, and shivered into a hundred
glittering fragments. The crowd, in a stupefied silence, stared at
the Knight, when three shrill blasts sounded from the trumpets of the
golden page boys on the top of the tower.
"This," called the first, in a clear ringing voice, "this is Corum----"
"Prince of Corumbia!" cried the second page.
"And the Yellow Knight of Oz!" finished the third, and raising their
trumpets together the pages blew one long, piercing blast. Then they
stiffened into silence and were still. And where, now, was Sir Hokus
of Pokes, the kind, friendly, gray old Knight of Oz? Speedy, with a
queer sinking in his heart, rubbed his eyes and stared again. Standing
at Stampedro's head was a sturdy young Knight with shining gold
hair. A yellow plume rose from his gold helmet, and a yellow cloak
floated from his broad shoulders. His eyes, blue and sparkling, looked
impatiently over the crowd, which had broken into the wildest cheering
and stamping. Feeling terribly confused and friendless, Marygolden and
Speedy moved closer together, while the Comfortable Camel gave a groan
of dismay. Without seeming to know or notice them, the Yellow Knight
flung his arms round Stampedro's neck, and the great horse nickered and
whinnied with joy. Waiting just long enough to embrace the King and
Queen, who had hurried down from the tower, the Yellow Knight leapt
into the saddle and raised his gleaming lance.
"I remember where I was bound before this enchantment!" he cried
boisterously. "I ride to win the hand of a neighboring Princess.
Countrymen, farewell! I will return with my bride."
"Oh!" gasped Marygolden. "Is he not of a marvelous handsomeness? Oh!
Oh! He has forgotten all about serving me." And hiding her head on
Speedy's shoulder, the Princess began to weep bitterly.
"There, there!" said Speedy gruffly, shielding Marygolden from the
press of the crowd. "What do you care about this fellow? You're coming
to America with me."
"But who'll show us the way?" wailed Marygolden, her tears falling
thick and fast upon Confido's head. Speedy, not sure himself, stood on
tiptoe to have a last look at the vanishing Knight, whom Stampedro had
already carried to the gates, when he felt a tug at his coat. It was
the Comfortable Camel, wild-eyed and furious.
"Let's go after them," screamed the Camel. "Let's try those other dates
and see whether we cannot save him from himself. Are we going to lose
Sir Hokus of Pokes just to please these Corumbians? Climb up quickly,
youngsters. I can run as fast as any horse in Oz. Climb up, and we'll
bring him back again!" Not sure that they could, but unwilling to let
the Yellow Knight ride away without a word, Speedy and Marygolden
stepped on a bench and thence to the high seat between Camy's humps.
Next instant there were two clouds of dust on the highway. And Camy was
as good as his word, for though Stampedro had a long start, never once
did they lose sight of his flying heels. Breathless and banged about,
Speedy and the Princess hung on to the sides of the seat and to one
another, while Confido growled and snarled at the awful discomforts
of the ride. At first, Speedy thought they were going through
Samandra, but skirting the Sultan's desert domain, the Knight rode
through a pleasant pastoral valley filled with tumble-down and empty
villages and towns, and after a sharp two-hour gallop came to a tall
silver-trimmed castle. But it was as forsaken, forlorn, and deserted
as the Castle of Corumbia had been the day before; every window was
broken, and the courtyard was a wilderness of weeds. Dismounting
slowly, the Yellow Knight looked sadly around, and as the Comfortable
Camel came charging through the broken gateway he seemed scarcely to
see him.
"All gone," mused the Knight. "And yet, surely this was the day set for
the grand test of skill and courage."
"What are you talking about?" scolded Camy, panting and heaving with
exhaustion. "Is this gratitude, I ask--running away from your old
friends, and forgetting all about your former comrades? Come back to
the Emerald City where you belong. You are Sir Hokus of Pokes and
nobody else!"
"Don't you remember us?" cried Speedy, while Marygolden extended her
arms entreatingly. But Sir Hokus looked through and past them, and even
when Stampedro tried to remind him of his former companions the Knight
turned uneasily away.
"I must see the Princess. Where is the Princess of Corabia?" he fumed,
striding feverishly up and down the courtyard. "Where are the King and
the Queen and all the others?"
"In the river," barked Confido spitefully. "Where did you suppose?"
"River?" sputtered the Knight, gazing fearfully at the stream running
swiftly by the castle.
"Certainly," sniffed the little dog, resting his chin on Marygolden's
arm. "When the Sultan changed the Corumbians into trees and bushes, he
turned the Corabians into fishes and frogs. If you want to catch the
King, you'd better get yourself a line and a hook."
"Then that's what the other dates are for," marvelled Speedy, dragging
the three remaining dates from his pocket. "One to restore the
Corabians, one to restore the castle, and----"
"One to restore the Princess," finished Confido in a bored voice. "But
why take all that trouble?"