Strut of the Strat Sets Off for Oz
"Don't you do it! Don't you do it!" Plumping down on his air cushion,
for the effects of the air-ade had worn off at last, the Soldier with
Green Whiskers wildly sounded retreat on his green bugle. Jellia,
knowing he would run as fast as he could and perhaps wreck the Ozoplane
before she and Nick could reach it, jumped off her throne and seized
him by the coat tails. As she did so, Strut gave the glass gong beside
him a resounding whack. Before any of the three travellers could take
another step, the twenty Blowmen tramped back into the Royal Pavilion.
The cheer engendered by the cheer gas had entirely evaporated by now,
and they looked very grim indeed. At a signal from Strut, one seized
Nick, a second the Soldier. A third was taking hold of Jellia, when
Strut sternly waved him aside.
"No No! Not that one! She is our new Starina!" he told the Blowman
roughly. "Now you are to stay right here, Jellia, my dear, and help
rule over Stratovania while I descend to Ohs and take possession of
that rich and prosperous country. And, sooner than soon, I will return,
bringing you the magic treasure and jewels and the crown and scepter of
this Ohsma!"
"Oh, but you mustn't!" wailed Jellia, clasping her hands desperately.
"Ozma is a _real_ Princess and much more beautiful than I!"
"In that case, I shall bring Ohsma back and make her a Starina also!"
promised Strut.
"Now Hippenscop," he directed, shaking his finger at the odd-looking
page, "you and Junnenrump are to obey Jellia in everything. I'll leave
three Blowmen here to protect our Starina. The others, and all of my
able-bodied fighters, shall fly with me to Ohs."
"The Ozoplane holds only four!" cried Jellia, looking desperately over
at Nick who was struggling angrily to free himself from the Blowmen.
But they had his arms pinioned behind his back, and the poor Tin
Woodman was unable to help himself.
"Oh, that's all right!" answered Strut, "I and this Tin Emperor will
ride in the Friend-ship, and the others will follow on their flying
sticks and soon I will return with all the treasures of Ohs!" As the
Blowmen started away, shoving Nick and the Soldier ahead of them,
Jellia felt so frightened and alone that she burst into tears.
"Oh, please, please--couldn't you leave the Soldier to keep me
company?" she sobbed, wiping her streaming eyes on her sash.
"Of course, if you wish!" Motioning to the Blowmen, they picked up
Wantowin as if he had been a sack of potatoes, and tossed him roughly
back into the Royal Pavilion. He landed with a clatter at Jellia's feet.
"But see here! I am not sure I can find the way back to Oz!" protested
Nick Chopper as Strut fell into step at his side. "I happened upon this
airosphere by the merest chance, and have no idea in which direction Oz
now lies."
"Just the same--I think you will take me there!" Strut grinned
wickedly, tapping Nick on the shoulder with his staff. He already had
sent Junnenrump to summon the army, and, glancing over his shoulder,
Nick saw a thousand young airmen strutting along behind them. As they
came to the shores of Half Moon Lake, Hippenscop came panting and
gasping into view.
"Her Skyness the new Starina, bade me give you this," he puffed,
handing the Tin Woodman the small oil can the Wizard had given him at
the party. Nick had forgotten all about his oil can and without it he
was likely to rust and become perfectly helpless. Taking it thankfully
from the messenger, he hung it on a hook beneath his arm and headed
reluctantly for the Oztober. Nick had no intention of flying Strut to
the Emerald City. Even if he had to wreck the plane, he would find some
way to keep the greedy airman and his legions from conquering Oz. Then
he would return and rescue Jellia and the soldier.
But, without a word to Strut, for argument at this point would have
been useless, he mounted the ladder, walked through the cozy cabin and
seated himself in the pilot's chair. Strut paused on the top rung of
the ladder before he entered.
"Follow us closely, men," he commanded gruffly, "no matter how far
or fast we fly." Strut's young warriors raised their flying staffs
to show that they understood, and with a few final directions, the
Stratovanian stepped over the sill, slammed the door of the Oztober
and walked rapidly forward, examining everything with lively interest.
"So this dragon-body really flys?" he said, bending curiously over the
navigator's table. "Ho, what's this? I thought you told me you had
no way of finding the route back?" Nick Chopper, much more surprised
than Strut, picked up the tidy map that lay on top of the buttons.
It certainly had not been there when he left the plane, but here it
was now, showing the complete course they had taken since leaving the
Emerald City. Concluding this was some of the Wizard's magic, Nick
examined the map attentively. Each turn up or down, each mile east or
west, was charted accurately.
"All you have to do is follow this in reverse," exclaimed Strut.
Unaccustomed as he was to flying except by staff, he was nevertheless
sharp enough to realize the value of a good map when he saw one. "And
remember now--no tricks!" he warned, sternly. "Land me safely in Ohs
and you will be suitably rewarded. But land me anywhere else and you
will be completely obliterated!"
Nick said nothing. Weary of Strut's threats and boasts, the Woodman
touched the button to inflate the Oztober's balloon, and the "up,"
"south" and "fast" buttons. In the whirr and splutter of their
take-off, the Airlander's further remarks and directions were
completely drowned out.