tree. "Hokus doesn't know nor care for us. Let's go back to the Emerald
City and see whether Ozma can bring him to his senses."
"But we really should help these poor people," sighed Marygolden,
looking worriedly into the turbulent stream.
"Yes," agreed Speedy thoughtfully. "We really should." The Yellow
Knight had withdrawn, and so heard nothing of the conversation, but
Stampedro, trotting up to the depressed little group, tried his best to
cheer and comfort them.
"The past must come before the present," he reminded them gently. "Give
this young Knight time and he will remember you, and if you can help
him further, I pray that you will. I, myself, will repay you and carry
you back to America if need be, even though, once there, I may never
speak nor see this fair land again." Touched by Stampedro's devotion
to his master and his willingness to serve them, Speedy decided to
break the last of the Sultan's evil spells. Confido, who seemed to
take no interest one way or the other, drawled out instructions in a
lazy voice, and Speedy, following these instructions, first ate the
smallest date and cast the stone into the river. Instantly frogs' and
fishes' heads in hundreds appeared above the surface of the water,
changed as the watchers on the bank looked at them to people's heads,
and presently as grand and colorful a company as had marched from the
enchanted forest rose up out of the yellow river and proceeded quietly
to the castle.
Hurriedly seeking out the King, Speedy explained as quickly as he could
how the Sultan's enchantment had been dispelled. The King, who, Speedy
could not help thinking, still looked a little like a fish, embraced
the boy heartily and promised him half the Kingdom as a reward. But
making light of that, Speedy, who was anxious to see the castle
restored, begged the King to eat the second date and cast the seed upon
a newly kindled fire in the dining hall. This the King was willing and
ready enough to do, and as miraculously and swiftly as the Castle of
Corumbia had been restored, the Castle of Corabia resumed its former
glory and splendor. Speedy and Marygolden liked it even better than the
castle they had just left, for the Corabian castle was of silver and
crystal, and glittered and sparkled like a palace of ice. Having so
satisfactorily restored his castle, the King returned to the courtyard
to address his subjects. The Yellow Knight, in a dazed silence, had
watched all the changes taking place before his eyes, and now urging
Stampedro forward, approached the raised dais where the King and Queen,
Speedy and Marygolden had taken their places. Camy, kneeling behind the
two, peered out at his former hero with blurred and tear-dimmed eyes.
"I came to take my chance in the grand test of skill and courage for
the hand of your daughter," cried the Yellow Knight, dipping the colors
on his gold lance-tip to the King and Queen. At these words, four more
Knights rode out from the crowd, repeating almost exactly the words of
the Yellow Knight.
"Gosh, these fellows must have been enchanted along with the
Corabians," decided Speedy, helping Marygolden to a place on an
overturned flowerpot so she could have a good view of the champions,
"and this test must have been planned the very day the Sultan's magic
took effect."
"It was," snickered Confido, lifting his head curiously, "and what's
more, the Princess is still enchanted and cannot be released until one
of these Knights has passed the test and won the right to her hand. Ho,
ho! Wait till they hear what the test is. They'll dash off in a hurry,
even the brave Hokus, who pretends not to know us any more!"
"I'll wager he won't," asserted Marygolden stoutly. "I'll wager he will
win this Princess. Dear, dear, how happy she will be to marry a Prince
so tall and handsome."
"Sh--hh!" warned Speedy, touching her arm warningly. "The King is going
to speak."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
FOR THE HAND OF A PRINCESS
"Knights and Princes!" The voice of the Corabian King sounded a trifle
hoarse, due, no doubt, to his five hundred year immersion in the yellow
river. "This grand test of courage for the hand of my only daughter,
which has already been delayed five centuries by the meddling magic of
our wicked neighbor, must be delayed still longer until the Princess
herself has been disenchanted and restored to us. Has anyone present
seen the Princess?" The King and Queen gazed searchingly over the heads
of their assembled subjects, and Speedy, not wishing them to worry a
moment longer than was necessary, stepped forward to explain.
[Illustration: THE KING OF CORABIA.]
"The Princess can only be released from the Sultan's spell by
the winner of the contest," announced the King, after an earnest
consultation with Speedy. "Kings! Knights! Princes! The fate of my only
daughter is in your hands."
"Let the contest proceed!" roared the crowd, and the five contestants
immediately galloped forward.
"State your conditions," puffed a Knight in green, holding his great
white charger in check with difficulty.
"Oh! Oh! I hope our Knight wins," breathed Marygolden, clasping the
Comfortable Camel round the neck, and placing Confido high on the
Camel's hump, so he could see.
"Our Knight!" grumbled the Camel disdainfully. "Our Knight no longer!"
But secretly and with great satisfaction he noted that the Yellow
Knight was the handsomest of all the suitors.
"Atta boy, Hokus!" shouted Speedy, as Stampedro galloped smartly to
the fore. Then a deep silence fell on the company as the King rose to
announce the conditions of the grand contest, and when he finished a
little shiver ran through the crowd.
"Beneath these three rings," the King told them, solemnly pointing to
three brass rings in the silver flagstones at his feet, "there are
three secret passageways. One opens into a bottomless pit filled with
poisonous vapor, one into the cave of a seven-headed hydra, and one
leads straight to the tower room of the Princess herself. Let each
Knight choose his ring, and may the bravest among you win my daughter's
hand!"
"But what of the others?" objected the Knight in green. "An honest
battle I do not mind, but bottomless pits and seven-headed hydras! Nay,
not for the fairest damsel that lives!" Touching spurs to his horse, he
thundered away, leaving everyone choking in the dust he had raised.
"Poisonous vapor!" puffed a lordly fellow in red. "What chance has a
brave man against such trickery? Adieu, I withdraw!" And withdraw he
did, followed by a black Knight and a gray, who, without stopping to
explain their reasons, cantered off so violently that they upset three
guards and a stand of posies.
"Curses!" muttered Speedy, staring anxiously at the Yellow Knight, who
all alone stood staring down at the fatal rings. "Suppose he rides off,
too?" But the Yellow Knight had no such intention, and with a shout
that reminded the boy of his old friend, Sir Hokus, he sprang lightly
from his horse.
"The monster I will slay, and gladly, with the poisonous vapor I must
take my chance, but this Princess must be saved at any cost, at any
hazard, and come what may!"
"Hola! Bravo!" screamed the company, beside itself with delight. "Three
cheers for the Yellow Knight of Oz." Marygolden, excited as any, tore
off the rose Peter Pun had fastened to her shoulder that morning, and
flung it impulsively down to him. The rose fell directly over the
center ring and the Knight, looking up in surprise, caught Marygolden
smiling at him.
"Good," he mused, thrusting the rose into his glove. "This little
maiden whom I seem to know well, shall decide for me." And without
pause or parley, he leaned forward and pulled up the center ring. There
was a groan and creak as the trapdoor lifted, and the Corabians in the
front ranks backed away as far as they could. But only a flight of
silver steps led down from the opening, and as the Knight prepared to
descend, the King lifted his scepter.
"My son!" cried the King joyfully. "You have indeed chosen well, for
this passageway leads straight to the tower of the Princess. But
before you go to break the spell that cruelly keeps her from our
presence, I beg that you will lift these other rings." Much mystified,
the Corabians began to mutter that such a request was not fair nor
necessary. But the Yellow Knight, after a keen look at his Majesty,
lifted first one and then the other. A great roar of surprise and then
mirth went up, for there was nothing under either ring but grass.
"Odds muttons and buttons!" puffed the Yellow Knight, staring down in
astonishment. "Was there, then, no monster or poisonous vapor at all?"
"None," smiled the King calmly. "But the man to whom I would trust my
daughter had to be brave enough to take a chance--to risk anything for
her sake. That you have done. Those craven cowards who rode away might
have done it also. And now go quickly and claim your reward." Stepping
down from his throne, the King gave the Knight the last date that
Speedy had plucked from the magic palm. "Eat this date," he directed
earnestly, "place the seed upon the ledge of the tower balcony, and
instantly the Princess will be restored to herself, to us, and to you,
her future husband. Is that not right, Confido?" The little dog nodded
superciliously, and with a little sigh of expectancy the crowd watched
the Yellow Knight vanish down the steps of the secret passageway.
"Well," said Speedy, squinting up at the balcony and feeling much as
one does when the curtain is about to descend in the theater for the
last time, "this clears up the last mystery, and after we see this
Princess we might as well go home. Look, there's the Yellow Knight on
the balcony now! He's eaten the date. Now I wonder whether the Princess
will be pretty. I'll bet she's not as pretty as you are, Marygolden.
Hey, say! Where did she go? Camy! Camy! Where's Marygolden?" But the
Comfortable Camel was staring upward so intently that he did not even
hear Speedy's question.
"Rice! Soup and cobblestone pie!" gulped Camy, stretching up his neck
to its fullest extent. "Do you see what I see?" Still looking anxiously
around for Marygolden, Speedy glanced quickly aloft and then gave a
startled scream.
"Why, it's Marygolden! How did she get up there? Curses
Mickapplejuice! How can Marygolden be the Princess of Corabia? I found
her my own self. She's my Princess and is coming back to America with
me!"
"Guess again!" grunted the Camel dryly. As Speedy took another
incredulous look, Marygolden put both arms round the Knight's neck and
embraced him tenderly. Not since the Skyrocket flew off without Uncle
Billy had Speedy felt so lost, strange, and forgotten.
"Gosh! Golly!" gulped the boy, winking fast to keep back the tears.
"Gosh! Golly! Camy, we're the only ones left. I don't suppose
Marygolden will remember us any more than Hokus did. Come on, let's
get out of here." But so great was the crush that they could not move
a step. All around them the Corabians were stamping and shouting with
joy, and presently Marygolden and the Yellow Knight came down to greet
the cheering throng. And now, to make matters worse, who should arrive
but the King and Queen of Corumbia and Peter Pun in a white chariot
drawn by twenty white horses. And then what a rejoicing and embracing
between the two kingly couples, so long separated by the Sultan's
enchantments! Marygolden, in her gold court dress and train, looked so
tall and stately that Speedy could not believe she was the same girl
who had gone through so many strange adventures with him. The Princess,
after heartily embracing her parents and the parents of the Yellow
Knight, began to look searchingly over the heads of the courtiers,
and not seeing Speedy, who had stepped behind a silver pillar, spoke
quickly to a page at her side. Blowing a shrill blast on his silver
trumpet the page called loudly.
"Will the liberator of the Corumbians and the Corabians, the discoverer
of Princess Marygolden, and the gentlest and bravest youth in twenty
kingdoms be pleased to step forward? Speedy, the American, and the
Comfortable Camel of Oz kindly step this way. Way for Speedy and the
Comfortable Camel of Oz!" Speedy, turning red as a turkeycock, backed
in embarrassment, but the crowd, quickly recognizing the boy who had
given the magic dates to the King, boisterously pushed him forward,
Camy treading in a dignified manner behind him. Then, to his surprise
and delight, both the Princess and the Yellow Knight hurried forward to
clasp his hands.
"Speedy!" cried the Knight, his eyes lighting up with the same kindly
twinkle that had characterized Sir Hokus. "And Camy! Good old Camy!
That enchantment acted upon me like a fever. Forgive me, if in the
excitement of the present, I for a moment forgot the friends and
allegiances of the past. Odds bodikens! I was bewitched, or I would
have known Marygolden long ago."
"Soon as I kissed him he remembered everything," smiled the Princess,
lifting Confido to a place on her shoulder. "Ah, Speedy, is it not
wonderful? I, too, remember everything now. This is my real home and
happiness, but I'll never forget the adventures we had together, nor
the grand care you took of me when I scarce knew anything at all."
"Do you mind so very much if I take care of her now?" begged Sir Hokus
in an anxious undertone. "You wouldn't want to marry for years, and a
Princess might not be happy in America."
"I suppose not," sighed Speedy, staring up at the bewildering vision
of loveliness that was Marygolden. "But I sorta wanted to show her my
dog, and Uncle Billy's laboratory, and--and----" All at once Speedy
was dreadfully homesick for a sight of Uncle Billy himself, for the
pungent tang of Uncle Billy's pipe, and the queer smelling chemicals in
the inventor's workshop. For the first time he felt out of place amid
all this pomp and splendor. "I guess I'll be going along," sighed
Speedy, with a last, long, regretful look at the Princess.
"And I suppose, now that you have Stampedro, you'll not be needing me,"
choked the Comfortable Camel, bobbing his head sadly at the splendid
figure of the Knight. "Good--good-bye! I'm going to take Speedy to the
Emerald City and ask Ozma to send him home to America, and then--and
then----" Camy tried hard to control himself but finally broke down and
wept bitterly.
"Then you're coming straight back to Corumbia. Camy, Camy, you old son
of a sandwich, d'ye think I could get along without you? Why, I'll need
dozens of mounts! And besides, aren't you my best friend? And Speedy,
my boy, surely you'll stay for the wedding?"
"And the reward!" puffed the King of Corabia, thumping Speedy heartily
on the back. "Half my kingdom if you will stay with us!"
"And mine!" asserted the King of Corumbia, while Peter Pun begged
Speedy to stay and share his tower.
"Oh, I couldn't stay always!" explained the boy quickly. "But I'd like
to stay for the wedding! Shall we, Camy?" The Camel, who was crying
comfortably down the Knight's back, nodded without speaking, and as
Sir Hokus insisted that the marriage take place at once they all turned
toward the castle.
But before they had gone a step there came a sudden and blinding flash
of lightning. It played over the whole company, but settled like a
spotlight upon the Yellow Knight and the Comfortable Camel of Oz.
"Mmm-magic!" stuttered Peter Pun, jumping behind the King of Corumbia.
"Sss-somebody's making light of us."
"The Sultan!" burst out Speedy, rushing to the Knight's side. "What'll
we do?" But before Sir Hokus (and somehow I cannot call this Yellow
Knight anything but that) before Sir Hokus could draw his sword, the
flash of light faded away. Then, as everyone began to breathe easily
again, there came a second flash; two flying figures sailed over the
heads of the crowd and dropped lightly before Marygolden and the Yellow
Knight.
"Why, it's Ozma!" quavered the Comfortable Camel, lifting his head from
the Knight's shoulder.
[Illustration: "WHY, IT'S OZMA!"]
"Whose ma?" queried Peter Pun, coming out from behind the King. "Why,
she's a mere child and no ma at all."
"She's the ma of this whole country, just the same," asserted Camy,
shaking his head proudly. "Three cheers for Ozma of Oz and Princess
Dorothy, her best friend and advisor!" The Corabians, although hoarse
from cheering already, gladly gave three more. And concealing perfectly
their consternation and surprise at the strange manner and suddenness
of her arrival, the rulers of Corumbia and Corabia, with bows, murmurs,
and many graceful genuflections, greeted the Supreme Sovereign of their
whole magic and mysterious country.
CHAPTER TWENTY
THE MARRIAGE OF MARYGOLDEN
The Wizard of Oz, as you have probably surmised, had finally perfected
his searchlight. First it had discovered the magic picture stuck behind
some books in Ozma's library. Sir Hokus himself had hidden the picture
before he started on his quest, for he knew if it was in its place he
would soon be found and followed. Then the searchlight, shot from the
top of the castle tower, had flashed back with the whereabouts of the
Comfortable Camel and Sir Hokus. No sooner had Ozma discovered that
they were in Corabia than she clasped on her magic belt and transported
herself and Dorothy to that Kingdom.
[Illustration: THE WIZARD AND HIS SEARCHLIGHT.]
"Here's Camy!" gasped Dorothy, somewhat breathlessly returning the
bows of their Majesties. "But I don't see Sir Hokus. Well, anyway, the
searchlight has found Camy."
"Found us both," corrected the Camel grandly. "There stands Sir Hokus
of Pokes, really the Yellow Knight and Prince of Corumbia, with his
bride, the Princess of Corabia. These, your Highness," Camy jerked
his head respectfully in the direction of the Kings and Queens, "are
the Sovereigns of Corumbia and Corabia and this boy, this excellent,
courageous and adventurous American boy, is called Speedy, and in him
you see the restorer of two kingdoms and a Prince, and the discoverer
of a Princess!"
"How about me?" coughed Confido sharply. "I guess I'm as important as
he is!"
"The Imperial Peke of Samandra, now official pet of Princess
Marygolden," added Camy, with a broad wink at Peter Pun. Ozma smiled
and nodded at each introduction but was so stunned and dazzled by the
change in Sir Hokus of Pokes that she could for several moments find no
words to express her astonishment.
[Illustration: OZMA WAS STUNNED BY THE CHANGE IN SIR HOKUS.]
"Is it really you?" she begged finally, standing on tiptoe to put her
hands on the Knight's shoulder. "Yes, I can tell by the eyes. The eyes
are the same. But wherever have you been and why did you go off without
us? We have been so anxious and worried."
Sir Hokus blushed and looked uncomfortable.
"Because a Knight must go questing alone!" explained Camy, coming
valiantly to the rescue. "And has it not been worth some worry, to have
everything turn out so happily? Wait, just wait till you have heard our
story!"
"Why wait?" cried the King of Corabia, who was consumed with curiosity
to discover how Speedy had come to have the magic dates. "Why wait? Let
us hear everything now."
"A story! A story! Enchantments and glory!
Ye Knights and ye Ladies, give ear--
Attend and turn pale, as ye list to the tale
Of Sir Hokus and Speedy. Hear! Hear!"
roared Peter Pun, shaking his belled stick hilariously. Ozma and
Dorothy were only too anxious to hear, and when silver chairs had been
brought for them by the footmen, the Yellow Knight and Speedy told the
story of their exciting experiences from beginning to end. Ozma, like
Speedy, could not help feeling a little sad to lose Sir Hokus. The Good
Knight of Oz would be sadly missed at the castle. But she knew it would
be selfish to wish for her old friend instead of this young and shining
Knight, so happy in his release and future. As she sat musing over the
whole strange story, Dorothy jumped up and impulsively kissed both the
Knight and his bride.
"I understand everything," cried Dorothy, flinging out her arms,
"everything except how Sir Hokus got to Pokes and Marygolden to
Subterranea. How do you suppose they did, Ozma?"
"That," said Ozma, her lovely face suddenly growing grave, "we shall
soon discover!" And touching her magic belt she spoke seven words
under her breath. Speedy, who had dropped on a cushion beside Peter
Pun, bounded up with a cry of alarm. The Yellow Knight jerked out his
sword, and little gasps of dismay and curiosity burst from the lips of
the onlookers. There, before Queen Ozma, stood the Sultan of Samandra,
brought by the magic belt to answer for his crimes. At the moment of
his summons, the fat and furious monarch had been riding at the head
of his camel corps to attack the King of Corumbia. In his hand he still
brandished a large, gleaming scimiter, and his face, distorted with
rage, astonishment, and disappointment, was not pleasant to gaze upon.
"Drop that weapon," commanded Ozma sternly, and after one quick glance
the Sultan, recognizing the Ruler of all Oz, sulkily did as he was told.
"Now," continued Ozma severely, "will you kindly explain why you stole
the treasures of your two good neighbors and enchanted and transformed
them and their children for five hundred years?"
"If the children of these two monarchs married, as they fully intended
to do, the two Kings would have combined to crush me," whined the
Sultan, shifting from one foot to the other.
"Nonsense!" blustered the King of Corumbia. "You know I had always the
kindliest feelings toward you, nor ever suspected such base treachery
at your hands."
"Were you the Black Knight who challenged Sir Hokus to combat the
day he rode out to win the Princess of Corabia?" asked Ozma. Without
meeting her eye, the Sultan nodded.
"And did you, by yellow and forbidden magic, send Sir Hokus to Pokes
and change Marygolden to a statue and give her into the keeping of the
Shah of Subterranea?" Again the Sultan nodded, and suddenly catching
sight of Confido nestling in the Princess' arms, gave a shriek of rage
and jealousy.
"Wretch!" shrilled the Sultan. "Perfidious puppy, you have betrayed
me!" Then, realizing he was in the power of a Fairy powerful enough to
destroy him utterly, he grew still and rigid and gazed unhappily at the
floor.
"What shall be done to this wicked person?" sighed Ozma, looking
thoughtfully at the rulers of Corumbia and Corabia. "You who have
suffered through his treachery shall pronounce his sentence." At this
the Sultan trembled so violently that his heavy gold necklaces and
anklets rattled like a prisoner's chains.
"Humph!" exclaimed the Corabian monarch, looking over at the King of
Corumbia. "What say you, neighbor?"
"Well," puffed the King of Corumbia, rubbing his chin thoughtfully,
"this villain has robbed us of five hundred years, but, on the other
hand, doubtless saved us from that many toothaches and hair-cuts.
Suppose we ask Queen Ozma to take away all his magic powers and
appliances, force him to return all that he has stolen, and for five
hundred years to stay within the boundaries of his own country?"
"Good enough," agreed the King of Corabia, and while Speedy and Peter
Pun and some of the others who thought the Sultan had got off far too
easily looked a bit disappointed, Ozma with a few magic passes rendered
all of the Sultan's spells and wizardry useless. Then, as his presence
spoiled the view and good spirits of an otherwise cheerful and charming
company, she instantly transported him back to Samandra where he is
doubtless complaining to Tuzzle or bullying the Grand Bozzywoz at this
very moment. Confido and Camy without a quiver saw their former master
vanish away. Then, with a satisfied sniff, Confido dozed off in the lap
of the Princess, dreaming of all the gold bowls and collars he should
require of the two Kings as a reward.