The Army of Glinda the Good looked very grand and imposing when it
assembled at daybreak before the palace gates. The uniforms of the girl
soldiers were pretty and of gay colors, and their silver-tipped spears
were bright and glistening, the long shafts being inlaid with
mother-of-pearl. All the officers wore sharp, gleaming swords, and
shields edged with peacock-feathers; and it really seemed that no foe
could by any possibility defeat such a brilliant army.
The Sorceress rode in a beautiful palanquin which was like the body of
a coach, having doors and windows with silken curtains; but instead of
wheels, which a coach has, the palanquin rested upon two long,
horizontal bars, which were borne upon the shoulders of twelve
servants.
The Scarecrow and his comrades decided to ride in the Gump, in order to
keep up with the swift march of the army; so, as soon as Glinda had
started and her soldiers had marched away to the inspiring strains of
music played by the royal band, our friends climbed into the sofas and
followed. The Gump flew along slowly at a point directly over the
palanquin in which rode the Sorceress.
[Illustration: image278]
“Be careful,” said the Tin Woodman to the Scarecrow, who was leaning
far over the side to look at the army below. “You might fall.”
“It wouldn’t matter,” remarked the educated Woggle-Bug. “he can’t get
broke so long as he is stuffed with money.”
“Didn’t I ask you” began Tip, in a reproachful voice.
“You did!” said the Woggle-Bug, promptly. “And I beg your pardon. I
will really try to restrain myself.”
“You’d better,” declared the boy. “That is, if you wish to travel in
our company.”
“Ah! I couldn’t bear to part with you now,” murmured the Insect,
feelingly; so Tip let the subject drop.
The army moved steadily on, but night had fallen before they came to
the walls of the Emerald City. By the dim light of the new moon,
however, Glinda’s forces silently surrounded the city and pitched their
tents of scarlet silk upon the greensward. The tent of the Sorceress
was larger than the others, and was composed of pure white silk, with
scarlet banners flying above it. A tent was also pitched for the
Scarecrow’s party; and when these preparations had been made, with
military precision and quickness, the army retired to rest.
Great was the amazement of Queen Jinjur next morning when her soldiers
came running to inform her of the vast army surrounding them. She at
once climbed to a high tower of the royal palace and saw banners waving
in every direction and the great white tent of Glinda standing directly
before the gates.
“We are surely lost!” cried Jinjur, in despair; “for how can our
knitting-needles avail against the long spears and terrible swords of
our foes?”
“The best thing we can do,” said one of the girls, “is to surrender as
quickly as possible, before we get hurt.”
“Not so,” returned Jinjur, more bravely. “The enemy is still outside
the walls, so we must try to gain time by engaging them in parley. Go
you with a flag of truce to Glinda and ask her why she has dared to
invade my dominions, and what are her demands.”
So the girl passed through the gates, bearing a white flag to show she
was on a mission of peace, and came to Glinda’s tent. “Tell your
Queen,” said the Sorceress to the girl, “that she must deliver up to me
old Mombi, to be my prisoner. If this is done I will not molest her
farther.”
[Illustration: image280]
Now when this message was delivered to the Queen it filled her with
dismay, for Mombi was her chief counsellor, and Jinjur was terribly
afraid of the old hag. But she sent for Mombi, and told her what Glinda
had said.
“I see trouble ahead for all of us,” muttered the old witch, after
glancing into a magic mirror she carried in her pocket. “But we may
even yet escape by deceiving this sorceress, clever as she thinks
herself.”
“Don’t you think it will be safer for me to deliver you into her
hands?” asked Jinjur, nervously.
“If you do, it will cost you the throne of the Emerald City!” answered
the witch, positively. “But if you will let me have my own way, I can
save us both very easily.”
“Then do as you please,” replied Jinjur, “for it is so aristocratic to
be a Queen that I do not wish to be obliged to return home again, to
make beds and wash dishes for my mother.”
So Mombi called Jellia Jamb to her, and performed a certain magical
rite with which she was familiar. As a result of the enchantment Jellia
took on the form and features of Mombi, while the old witch grew to
resemble the girl so closely that it seemed impossible anyone could
guess the deception.
“Now,” said old Mombi to the Queen, “let your soldiers deliver up this
girl to Glinda. She will think she has the real Mombi in her power, and
so will return immediately to her own country in the South.”
[Illustration: image282]
Therefore Jellia, hobbling along like an aged woman, was led from the
city gates and taken before Glinda.
“Here is the person you demanded,” said one of the guards, “and our
Queen now begs you will go away, as you promised, and leave us in
peace.”
“That I will surely do,” replied Glinda, much pleased; “if this is
really the person she seems to be.”
“It is certainly old Mombi,” said the guard, who believed she was
speaking the truth; and then Jinjur’s soldiers returned within the
city’s gates.
The Sorceress quickly summoned the Scarecrow and his friends to her
tent, and began to question the supposed Mombi about the lost girl
Ozma. But Jellia knew nothing at all of this affair, and presently she
grew so nervous under the questioning that she gave way and began to
weep, to Glinda’s great astonishment.
“Here is some foolish trickery!” said the Sorceress, her eyes flashing
with anger. “This is not Mombi at all, but some other person who has
been made to resemble her! Tell me,” she demanded, turning to the
trembling girl, “what is your name?”
This Jellia dared not tell, having been threatened with death by the
witch if she confessed the fraud. But Glinda, sweet and fair though she
was, understood magic better than any other person in the Land of Oz.
So, by uttering a few potent words and making a peculiar gesture, she
quickly transformed the girl into her proper shape, while at the same
time old Mombi, far away in Jinjur’s palace, suddenly resumed her own
crooked form and evil features.
“Why, it’s Jellia Jamb!” cried the Scarecrow, recognizing in the girl
one of his old friends.
“It’s our interpreter!” said the Pumpkinhead, smiling pleasantly.
[Illustration: image284]
Then Jellia was forced to tell of the trick Mombi had played and she
also begged Glinda’s protection, which the Sorceress readily granted.
But Glinda was now really angry, and sent word to Jinjur that the fraud
was discovered and she must deliver up the real Mombi or suffer
terrible consequences. Jinjur was prepared for this message, for the
witch well understood, when her natural form was thrust upon her, that
Glinda had discovered her trickery. But the wicked old creature had
already thought up a new deception, and had made Jinjur promise to
carry it out. So the Queen said to Glinda’s messenger:
“Tell your mistress that I cannot find Mombi anywhere, but that Glinda
is welcome to enter the city and search herself for the old woman. She
may also bring her friends with her, if she likes; but if she does not
find Mombi by sundown, the Sorceress must promise to go away peaceably
and bother us no more.”
Glinda agreed to these terms, well knowing that Mombi was somewhere
within the city walls. So Jinjur caused the gates to be thrown open,
and Glinda marched in at the head of a company of soldiers, followed by
the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, while Jack Pumpkinhead rode astride
the Saw-Horse, and the Educated, Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug sauntered
behind in a dignified manner. Tip walked by the side of the Sorceress,
for Glinda had conceived a great liking for the boy.
Of course old Mombi had no intention of being found by Glinda; so,
while her enemies were marching up the street, the witch transformed
herself into a red rose growing upon a bush in the garden of the
palace. It was a clever idea, and a trick Glinda did not suspect; so
several precious hours were spent in a vain search for Mombi.
As sundown approached the Sorceress realized she had been defeated by
the superior cunning of the aged witch; so she gave the command to her
people to march out of the city and back to their tents.
The Scarecrow and his comrades happened to be searching in the garden
of the palace just then, and they turned with disappointment to obey
Glinda’s command. But before they left the garden the Tin Woodman, who
was fond of flowers, chanced to espy a big red rose growing upon a
bush; so he plucked the flower and fastened it securely in the tin
buttonhole of his tin bosom.
[Illustration: image285]
As he did this he fancied he heard a low moan proceed from the rose;
but he paid no attention to the sound, and Mombi was thus carried out
of the city and into Glinda’s camp without anyone having a suspicion
that they had succeeded in their quest.
[Illustration: image288]
[Illustration: image289]