The Prince of the Peaks
The cry, though loud, was no longer defiant, and Tandy with a little
gasp of relief saw the Mountaineers on all the bridges bring their
pikes to rest beside them and gaze aloft for further orders.
"I am Alberif, Prince of the Peaks," stated the Man on the Highest
Bridge, looking coolly down at Samuel Salt. "But YOU--you who come in
this flying ship to conquer the Island of Peakenspire, who are YOU?"
"Ato, the Eighth, King of the Octagon Isles, Sir Samuel Salt, Captain
of the _Crescent Moon_ and Royal Explorer of Oz, Tazander Tazah, King
of Ozamaland, and myself a Royal Read Bird," shouted Roger before any
of the others had time to speak for themselves.
The Prince of the Peaks, tall and splendid in his shining coat and
breeches of silver cloth, his broad-brimmed hat with its quill and
rosette of wild flowers, looked so much more impressive than anyone
aboard the _Crescent Moon_, Tandy half expected him to laugh at Roger's
boastful announcements. But instead, Alberif, leaning far out over his
royal bridge, looked down at them long and seriously.
"Two Kings, a Royal Discoverer, a Flying Ship and a Read Bird! Hi de
Aye de Oh!" whistled the handsome monarch, shaking his head ruefully.
"No wonder we were captured. What then are your terms, Kings, Captain,
Bird and Conquerors?"
"Not conquerors, COMRADES," called up Samuel Salt in his hearty voice.
"Only by your own wish, agreement and consent shall ye come under the
rule of Oz. If your Highness could but descend from yon Royal Bridge to
this ship, everything can be arranged both peaceably and pleasantly."
"'Ware, Alberif! 'Ware, Alberif!" yodeled the Pikemen on the lower
bridges. "Once aboard that ship eeee-ip! We may never see you again
eeeeee-yen!"
"Oh, nonsense!" blustered Samuel Salt impatiently. "I give you my word
as a Pirate and a seaman no harm shall come to you on the _Crescent
Moon_."
The Prince stood lost in thought for a moment, then tapping his
long alpenstock sharply he issued a high yodeled command. From the
bridgehead an immense basket swooped down. The Prince seated himself
gravely in the basket and with three men manipulating the ropes made a
swift and dizzy descent to the deck of the _Crescent Moon_.
While Samuel and Roger welcomed the tall and lordly Ruler of the
Mountain Isle, Ato hurried off to the galley to prepare some suitable
refreshments for his entertainment. Tandy, after Samuel had introduced
him, began making careful sketches of the handsome Prince, of the
lovely city of bridges and of the Pikemen, who still looked with
suspicion and distrust upon the ship that had taken the place of their
own.
"How about that basket?" whispered Roger, who had come out to help Ato
in the galley. "How'd you like to be hoisted and lowered like a sail?
And for salt's sake, King dear, dust the flour off your nose and put
on your crown, or this fellow will think you're King of the Cookies and
Doughnuts."
"Ha, ha! When he's tasted my plum cake he'll not think it, he'll know
it!" puffed Ato, bustling happily from cupboard to cupboard. "Bring out
the best tumblers and silver plates, fetch up a dozen bottles of my
famous Sea-pop from the hold and we'll have this island in our pocket
before you can say Oz Robinson!"
When Ato with one tray and Roger with another came out, they found
the Captain and the Prince of the Peaks striding up and down the deck
in the friendliest conversation imaginable. Matched in height and
handsomeness, the two were discussing with lively interest everything
from ships and governments to the strange limestone that formed the
crystalline rocks of Alberif's island. Later, seated around the table
with Tandy and Roger passing plum cake and Sea-pop, the Prince grew
friendlier and more confidential still.
"We've never been conquered before," admitted his Majesty with a
puzzled smile, "but really I find it both interesting and enjoyable."
"Just a matter of chance and luck," said Samuel Salt with a modest
wave of his hand. "Had I not had balloon sails on the _Crescent Moon_,
your ship would have cut us clean in two before we had time to put
about."
"That is what I always planned would happen to an enemy craft," sighed
Alberif. "Naturally our own ship, the _Mountain Lass_, would have been
destroyed too, but we could easily have built another. That is what
we'll have to do anyway, as we'll never be able to haul her up the
torrent."
"Don't you do it," begged Samuel Salt, looking earnestly at the
Mountain Monarch. "I'll send you a set of balloon sails as soon as I
reach Elbow Island. The Red Jinn presented me with two sets and I'll be
delighted to send you one. Once they're set, you can fly up as easily
as we did and be ready for all and sundry, even US if we come again."
"Come and welcome!" beamed Alberif, looking in some surprise at Sally,
who had just lifted her head above the rim of Samuel's pipe bowl. "But
tell me, what am I to do now that I am conquered? Surely something is
required of us?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Samuel spoke earnestly and admiringly. "This
island and your men are in fine shape and a great credit to you, so
just go on as you are, but from this time forth you'll be in contact
with the famous and most modern Fairyland in History, and if you are
ever beset by enemies, you can call upon Oz for assistance or help. In
time, fruit, foodstuffs, books and merchandise will arrive from Oz, and
in return you may send back some of the sparkling crystals composing
these mountains. You might even invite a band of settlers from Oz to
come and live as your loyal subjects here."
"Gladly! Gladly!" agreed the Prince, his eyes sparkling at the
prospect. "We have many uninhabited peaks and spires and could
easily accommodate a thousand new bridge builders. Come with me, all
of you, to Skytop Tower and we'll run up the flag of Oz and sign a
pledge of allegiance to her Majesty Queen Ozma. AYE DE AYE OH LAY!"
Running out on deck, Alberif joyously beckoned to the men who operated
the traveling basket, inviting them all to enter. Ato, who had no
intention of trusting his two hundred and fifty pounds to this strange
conveyance, shook the Prince regretfully by the hand.
"I'll just watch it all from here," said the ship's cook firmly. "I've
pie to cook, potatoes to peel and dinner to stir up for all hands and a
hippopotamus, so, if you'll kindly excuse me--"
The Prince looked a little disappointed, but cheered up as Samuel,
Roger and Tandy followed him into the basket.
"Haul away!" yelled Samuel Salt, winking at Ato, and to the shrill
tune of a ringing round of yodels their curious elevator rose from the
deck, spun merrily up to the Twin Peaks and highest bridge of Alberif's
Mountain. Used as he was to the tall masts and lofty rigging of the
_Crescent Moon_, Tandy felt sick and giddy as the basket swooped and
swung upward. But it came down safely at last and at sight of the
shining spans of the lacy city spread out below, and the glittering
castle rising from the royal bridge, Tandy forgot all his uneasiness.
With a little whistle of surprise and interest he followed Samuel and
Alberif into the royal dwelling, while Roger flew off on a little
exploring expedition of his own. Roger knew all about castles and was
much more interested in the many windowed, fluted cottages of the
yodelers.
Ato, watching from the deck of the _Crescent Moon_, presently saw the
flag of Oz fluttering from the top turret of the Castle Tower and with
a little sigh of relief and pride he gathered up the empty pop bottles
and padded off to his galley. Soon Oz flags floated from the posts on
all the bridgeheads, adding much to the gaiety and beauty of Alberif's
city.
From the Royal Bridge Tandy and Samuel had a splendid view, and of
his many experiences Tandy always remembered best the afternoon spent
on Peakenspire. Alberif was a merry as well as an interesting host,
explaining everything from the strange traveling baskets to the age-old
customs and treasures of the Islanders. In the baskets the Islanders
could travel from bridge to bridge and down to the sea itself when
they wished to go fishing. There was little soil between the rocks,
but such soil as there was, was so amazingly fertile, each family
could raise all the fruit and vegetables required in one small window
box. After long experimentation and culture, Alberif's ancestors had
perfected two curious vines. On one vegetables grew in rapid rotation,
potatoes following peas, corn following potatoes, carrots following
corn, beets following carrots, cabbages, lima beans and spinach after
the beets. The vine never withered or died and by cutting off the top
every day the Islanders were assured of a continuous supply of fresh
vegetables. The fruit vine was of the same variety, furnishing every
known berry, fruit and melon. Each family was given two of these vines
and thus had very little worry about food supplies. Birds, something of
a cross between wild ducks and chickens, made their nests in the craggy
peaks, and with their eggs and a plentiful supply of fish and other sea
food the Islanders fared splendidly.
The Bridgemen were tall, blue eyed, handsome and happy. Men and women
alike wore short trousers and blouses of silver cloth and carried
pikes that served both as weapons and alpenstocks. The bridges, while
delicate as fine lace in construction, were supple and strong as
steel. The material mined from the mountains themselves was like silver
and crystal combined, a new strong and glittering metal, samples of
which Samuel happily thrust into his pocket.
"Sounds like magic," said Tandy, who had been listening closely to
Alberif's description of life on Peakenspire.
"It _is_ magic of a kind," answered the Prince with a pleased little
nod. "And the air here is so light and sparkling we never tire, grow
old or have illness of any kind, so that my people are always light
hearted and happy, spending most of their time in dancing and singing."
"I see," murmured Samuel Salt, "er--and hear," he added quickly as the
wild, joyous cries of Alberif's yodelers made every window in the
palace rattle. "I'll certainly make a note of all this and report
Peakenspire Island to Queen Ozma as the most interesting discovery of
the voyage."
"I am highly honored!" Alberif bowed stiffly. "Highly honored! HI
dee Aye de OH--hhhhh!" Jumping into the air, the Prince of the Peaks
kicked his heels together from sheer exuberance. "Wait," he told
them cheerfully, "and I'll get you some fruit and vegetable vines to
take back with you." Tandy and Samuel could not help grinning as
Alberif rushed off. To tell the truth, there was something so light
and exhilarating about the mountain air they found it difficult to
walk calmly themselves. As the Prince returned Samuel felt a loud and
uncontrollable yodel rising in his own throat, and seizing Tandy's
arm, he bade Alberif a hasty and hearty adieu. Bidding him keep a
sharp lookout for the airships from Oz, and loaded down with crystals
and vines, the two explorers climbed into the basket and were swung
swiftly down to the deck of the _Crescent Moon_. Roger, flying under
his own power and yodeling like a native, arrived soon after.
With Oz flags flying from all bridges and the Mountaineers calling out
rousing and melodious farewells, Samuel inflated his balloon sails and
the ship soared gracefully aloft, circled the island three times and
then dropped lightly down upon the surface of the sea. The _Mountain
Lass_ in charge of Alberif's husky crew lay just off shore and there
she would have to stay till Samuel sent a set of balloon sails to lift
her back to the Lake among the peaks.
Nikobo, who'd been swimming anxiously round and round, gave a bellow of
relief as she spied the _Crescent Moon_.
"I thought you'd been captured and destroyed!" wheezed the
hippopotamus, scrambling hastily aboard her raft. "Next time you fly
off, take me aboard or give me a balloon sail too. I'm so full of
salt water I'm perfectly pickled and somebody'll have to scrape the
barnacles off my hide."
"But we've brought you a present," called Tandy, leaning far over the
taffrail, "a vegetable vine that will keep you supplied with fresh
vegetables as long as we're at sea. SEE! DEEEE Aye DEE OH!"
"Avast and balaydeeaye!" barked Samuel Salt grimly. "Let's get away
from here. This is no way for able-bodied seamen to talk." Rushing from
wheel to mast, he quickly set his sail. "Ahoy! Ahoy Dee Oy Dee OH!"
he yodelled, then, very red in the face, he blew three shrill blasts
on his fog horn, swung his ship about and the _Crescent Moon_, with a
spanking breeze on her quarter, went skimming away toward the southern
skyline.