Quox Quietly Quits
When the chief nomes assembled before their new King they joyfully
saluted him and promised to obey his commands. But, when Kaliko
questioned them, none knew the way to the Metal Forest, although all had
assisted in its making. So the King instructed them to search carefully
for one of the passages and to bring him the news as soon as they had
found it.
Meantime Quox had managed to back out of the rocky corridor and so regain
the open air and his old station on the mountain-side, and there he lay
upon the rocks, sound asleep, until the next day. The others of the party
were all given as good rooms as the caverns of the nomes afforded, for
King Kaliko felt that he was indebted to them for his promotion and was
anxious to be as hospitable as he could.
Much wonderment had been caused by the absolute disappearance of the
sixteen officers of Oogaboo and their Queen. Not a nome had seen them,
nor were they discovered during the search for the passages leading to
the Metal Forest. Perhaps no one was unhappy over their loss, but all
were curious to know what had become of them.
On the next day, when our friends went to visit the dragon, Quox said to
them: "I must now bid you good-bye, for my mission here is finished and I
must depart for the other side of the world, where I belong."
"Will you go through the Tube again?" asked Betsy.
"To be sure. But it will be a lonely trip this time, with no one to talk
to, and I cannot invite any of you to go with me. Therefore, as soon as I
slide into the hole I shall go to sleep, and when I pop out at the other
end I will wake up at home."
They thanked the dragon for befriending them and wished him a pleasant
journey. Also they sent their thanks to the great Jinjin, whose just
condemnation of Ruggedo had served their interests so well. Then Quox
yawned and stretched himself and ambled over to the Tube, into which he
slid headforemost and disappeared.
They really felt as if they had lost a friend, for the dragon had been
both kind and sociable during their brief acquaintance with him; but they
knew it was his duty to return to his own country. So they went back to
the caverns to renew the search for the hidden passages that led to the
forest, but for three days all efforts to find them proved in vain.
It was Polychrome's custom to go every day to the mountain and watch for
her father, the Rainbow, for she was growing tired with wandering upon
the earth and longed to rejoin her sisters in their sky palaces. And on
the third day, while she sat motionless upon a point of rock, whom should
she see slyly creeping up the mountain but Ruggedo!
The former King looked very forlorn. His clothes were soiled and torn
and he had no sandals upon his feet or hat upon his head. Having left
his crown and sceptre behind when he fled, the old nome no longer seemed
kingly, but more like a beggarman.
Several times had Ruggedo crept up to the mouth of the caverns, only to
find the six eggs still on guard. He knew quite well that he must accept
his fate and become a homeless wanderer, but his chief regret now was
that he had neglected to fill his pockets with gold and jewels. He was
aware that a wanderer with wealth at his command would fare much better
than one who was a pauper, so he still loitered around the caverns
wherein he knew so much treasure was stored, hoping for a chance to fill
his pockets.
That was how he came to recollect the Metal Forest.
"Aha!" said he to himself, "I alone know the way to that Forest, and once
there I can fill my pockets with the finest jewels in all the world."
He glanced at his pockets and was grieved to find them so small. Perhaps
they might be enlarged, so that they would hold more. He knew of a poor
woman who lived in a cottage at the foot of the mountain, so he went to
her and begged her to sew pockets all over his robe, paying her with the
gift of a diamond ring which he had worn upon his finger. The woman was
delighted to possess so valuable a ring and she sewed as many pockets on
Ruggedo's robe as she possibly could.
Then he returned up the mountain and, after gazing cautiously around to
make sure he was not observed, he touched a spring in a rock and it swung
slowly backward, disclosing a broad passageway. This he entered, swinging
the rock in place behind him.
However, Ruggedo had failed to look as carefully as he might have done,
for Polychrome was seated only a little distance off and her clear eyes
marked exactly the manner in which Ruggedo had released the hidden
spring. So she rose and hurried into the cavern, where she told Kaliko
and her friends of her discovery.
"I've no doubt that that is a way to the Metal Forest," exclaimed
Shaggy. "Come, let us follow Ruggedo at once and rescue my poor brother!"
They agreed to this and King Kaliko called together a band of nomes to
assist them by carrying torches to light their way.
"The Metal Forest has a brilliant light of its own," said he, "but the
passage across the valley is likely to be dark."
Polychrome easily found the rock and touched the spring, so in less
than an hour after Ruggedo had entered they were all in the passage and
following swiftly after the former King.
"He means to rob the Forest, I'm sure," said Kaliko; "but he will find
he is no longer of any account in this Kingdom and I will have my nomes
throw him out."
"Then please throw him as hard as you can," said Betsy, "for he deserves
it. I don't mind an honest, out-an'-out enemy, who fights square; but
changing girls into fiddles and ordering 'em put into Slimy Caves is mean
and tricky, and Ruggedo doesn't deserve any sympathy. But you'll have to
let him take as much treasure as he can get in his pockets, Kaliko."
"Yes, the Jinjin said so; but we won't miss it much. There is more
treasure in the Metal Forest than a million nomes could carry in their
pockets."
It was not difficult to walk through this passage, especially when
the torches lighted the way, so they made good progress. But it proved
to be a long distance and Betsy had tired herself with walking and was
seated upon the back of the mule when the passage made a sharp turn and a
wonderful and glorious light burst upon them. The next moment they were
all standing upon the edge of the marvelous Metal Forest.
It lay under another mountain and occupied a great domed cavern, the roof
of which was higher than a church steeple. In this space the industrious
nomes had built, during many years of labor, the most beautiful forest
in the world. The trees--trunks, branches and leaves--were all of solid
gold, while the bushes and underbrush were formed of filigree silver,
virgin pure. The trees towered as high as natural live oaks do and were
of exquisite workmanship.
On the ground were thickly strewn precious gems of every hue and size,
while here and there among the trees were paths pebbled with cut diamonds
of the clearest water. Taken all together, more treasure was gathered in
this Metal Forest than is contained in all the rest of the world--if we
except the land of Oz, where perhaps its value is equalled in the famous
Emerald City.
Our friends were so amazed at the sight that for a while they stood
gazing in silent wonder. Then Shaggy exclaimed:
"My brother! My dear lost brother! Is he indeed a prisoner in this
place?"
[Illustration]
"Yes," replied Kaliko. "The Ugly One has been here for two or three
years, to my positive knowledge."
"But what could he find to eat?" inquired Betsy. "It's an awfully swell
place to live in, but one can't breakfast on rubies and di'monds, or even
gold."
"One doesn't need to, my dear," Kaliko assured her. "The Metal Forest
does not fill all of this great cavern, by any means. Beyond these gold
and silver trees are other trees of the real sort, which bear foods very
nice to eat. Let us walk in that direction, for I am quite sure we will
find Shaggy's brother in that part of the cavern, rather than in this."
So they began to tramp over the diamond-pebbled paths, and at every step
they were more and more bewildered by the wondrous beauty of the golden
trees with their glittering foliage.
Suddenly they heard a scream. Jewels scattered in every direction as some
one hidden among the bushes scampered away before them. Then a loud voice
cried: "Halt!" and there was the sound of a struggle.
[Illustration]