Escape from Red Top
As the great stag came to a sliding halt, the rays from his silver
lantern cast a wavering light over the little group crouched against
the rocks.
"Hello! How ever did you escape from the castle?" demanded Ozma's
little Magician, sliding recklessly off the high back of his steed and
embracing them jubilantly. "We were just coming to help you. Girls,
Scarecrow, Soldier, Lion--may I present Azarine, the real Princess of
this Mountain, and Shagomar and Dear Deer, her friends!"
Dorothy and Jellia were so stunned by the unexpected appearance of the
Wizard, they were able only to manage a couple of breathless bows. And
indeed, the lovely picture Azarine made, seated demurely on the huge,
red stag, was enough to render anyone speechless. Shaggy himself was
breath-taking, too. Not only the lantern and bell hung from his antlers
now, but perched unconcernedly on the tallest prong, was a lovely,
white pigeon with a key in his bill.
"This pigeon was going to fly up to the tower with the key to the
door," explained the Wizard, as his five comrades continued to gaze
at him in stupefied silence. "Fortunately Azarine, who was imprisoned
there before you, had an extra key. She said Bustabo would lock you up
in the tower!" exclaimed the Wizard with a nod at the Princess. "But
since you already are out and down, we'll not need the key. Tell me,
how did you manage to escape? What did you do? Break down the door?"
"No--we just stepped out the window," the Scarecrow told him with a
nonchalant wave upward.
"You mean, you jumped all this distance?" gasped Azarine leaning
forward to peer between Shaggy's branching antlers, while Dear Deer
trotted closer to nudge Dorothy with her soft, moist nose.
"Well--sort of," explained Jellia, putting an arm around the Cowardly
Lion, who still was looking extremely sulky. "But first we put on those
falling-out suits, Wiz, and you'll be glad to know they really worked."
"Splendid! _Splendid!_" beamed the Wizard, with a satisfied shake of
his head. "You know--I'd completely forgotten them, but I felt sure
you'd find some useful magic in the kit. Did Bustabo keep his promises?"
"Well, he locked us up in the tower, and he gave us a pretty good
supper," answered Dorothy. "But we didn't like being prisoners, and
we didn't feel safe in that castle. Then, a little while ago when we
heard him thumping up the stair--we just decided to leave! And so--we
left!"
"So we see! So we see!" The Wizard grinned appreciatively, delighted
by the spirit of the two girls. "But perhaps we'd better be off! No
knowing when Bustabo and his Bowmen will be coming to look for you.
Shagomar and Dear Deer have kindly agreed to carry us to the castle of
Glinda the Good. Once there--with Glinda's magic to help me, I'll find
some way to deal with Strut, and to force Bustabo to give up Azarine's
throne.
"Now suppose you two girls and the Scarecrow mount Dear Deer, and the
Soldier and I will ride with the Princess." Dear Deer, at the Wizard's
words, moved over to a flat rock. Without any trouble at all, Jellia
and Dorothy climbed to places on her back. Then the Scarecrow vaulted
up behind, clasping his arms 'round Jellia to keep from slipping off.
When Wantowin and the Wizard had mounted behind Azarine, the two Deer
swung away from the mountain. With the Cowardly Lion loping easily
between, they ran swiftly toward the Southlands.
Their gait was so smooth it seemed to Jellia they were flying like
figures in a dream through the shadowy forest, with only the twinkle
of the silver lantern to light their way. As they raced along Azarine
again told the story of Bustabo's treachery and how Shagomar had
brought the Wizard to her hidden cave. Then the two girls amused the
little Princess with the story of their experiences in the Strat. They
told her all about their life at home in the Emerald City, and of the
curious celebrities who lived in the palace with Ozma. Azarine already
was charmed with the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion, and kept leaning
down to have a better look at the tawny beast trotting so unconcernedly
between the two deer.
"I tell you," she proposed generously. "I tell you--if Strut destroys
the Emerald City--you all can come back and live with me. That is--if
Glinda and the Wizard can make Bustabo give my castle and Kingdom back?"
"But I do hope we'll find some way to stop Strut! How long will it take
him to reach the capitol?" Dorothy called across to the Wizard.
"Well, it took us a night, and half a day to fly to Stratovania,"
calculated the little Magician, wrinkling his forehead. "So I'm afraid
if Strut and the Tin Woodman left yesterday, they'll be in the Emerald
City tomorrow. That is--today."
"And it's almost morning now," shivered Jellia, glancing off toward the
East where the sky already showed the first streaks of lavender and
rose.
"Now, don't you worry," begged the Wizard, holding fast to his high
hat, "As soon as we reach Glinda's castle and I have some proper magic
to work with, I'll find a way to make both Strut and Bustabo behave.
The few trifles in this kit-bag are a help, but not nearly powerful
enough for rascals like those. Look, girls, isn't that Glinda's castle
now?"
"Oh, it is! It is!" cried Dorothy, clasping Dear Deer around the neck
she was so relieved and happy. And the silver trimmed towers and spires
of Glinda's lovely, red castle, shimmering through the early morning
mists, were enough to make anyone happy. Flashing through the beautiful
gardens and parks, leaping hedges and flower beds as lightly as
swallows, the stag and his mate brought the little band of adventurers
to the very door of the castle.
"Goodbye, now," breathed the stag, as the Wizard and Soldier slipped
off his back and the Wizard lifted Azarine down. "Take care of my
little Princess!"
"Oh, don't go!" cried Dorothy, for Dear Deer seemed on the point of
vanishing, too. "Do stay and see how it all turns out. Later on,
wouldn't you like to go to the Emerald City and meet the famous
animals who live in the capitol?" Shagomar looked questioningly at
Dear Deer, and as his pretty little wife seemed interested, he allowed
himself to be persuaded.
"We'll wait in the garden," he whistled softly. "Houses and castles are
too stuffy and shut in for Deer people. If you need me, Princess, just
ring the silver bell." Lowering his head so the Princess could slip the
bell from his antlers, the stag stood looking at her solemnly.
"I will," promised Azarine, waving her little red handkerchief as the
two deer sprang away. They actually seemed to float off above the
flowers, so lightly and easily did they run.