Azarine Is Restored to Red Top
From the castle window, the whole party cheered wildly as the Ozoplane,
roaring with power, soared over the wall, over the tree tops and up,
up, and up, till it vanished into the cloudless, blue sky.
"My pie! I do hope Nick doesn't start claiming any more countries,"
sighed Jellia, drawing in her head reluctantly. "And for cake's sake
why couldn't they have waited a few days? Of course the Tin Woodman
is never tired, but Wiz certainly needed a rest after all we've been
through!"
"Never you mind about that!" Glinda patted the kind-hearted little
Jellia on the shoulder. "The Wizard has his black bag along this time,
and in that bag there is a cure for almost everything--even lack of
sleep!"
"Look!" called Dorothy, pulling Jellia back to the window. "Shaggy
and Dear Deer are running races round the pond and here come all our
servants and celebrities! Hiah, Tik Tok! Hello, Scraps! See, Azarine!
That's the Patch Work Girl! You'll simply love her! We all do! Someone
must have sent word that Strut had been defeated!"
"I did--I dispatched one of my doves," explained Glinda. "And now, my
dear," the tall and lovely Sorceress motioned significantly to Ozma,
"is it not time to deal with Bustabo, and restore this Little Lady to
her Castle?"
"Oh, not yet! Please, not yet!" begged Dorothy, as Azarine looked
expectantly from Glinda to Ozma. "We want Azarine to stay here a long
time, don't we, Jellia? Come on Azzy, dear, I'll lend you an old dress
and we'll all go for a ride before lunch! You, on Shaggy--Jellia and I
on Dear Deer--Bettsy and Trot on the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow
on the Hungry Tiger!"
"It's all right, go ahead," Ozma nodded indulgently as the little
Princess hung back. She did want so much to stay and meet all the
interesting people in the garden, but she felt it her real duty to
return to her subjects, now suffering under the cruel rule and temper
of Bustabo.
Then:
"I've already turned Bustabo into a red Squirrel!" Ozma told the
Princess, gravely. "In that form he still can enjoy himself, but do no
harm to others. I've also sent a message saying you will be home in a
few days, and placed Archibald the Archer in charge till you return!"
"Oh, how did you know Archy is the one I trust most?" marveled
Azarine, her eyes shining with happiness and astonishment. "Bustabo
threw Archy into a dungeon a week ago, because he tried to help me!"
"Ozma knows everything," confided Dorothy, with an adoring glance
toward the little Ruler of all Oz. "And everything's going to be
lovely! Come on, Azzy! I'll beat you to the fountain in the garden!"
So now, with her last worry removed, the little Princess of Red Top
skipped off with Dorothy to meet all the exciting celebrities in the
garden. The two deer, alarmed by the strange appearance of some of the
Ozlanders, had hidden themselves in a snow-ball bush. But Azarine soon
coaxed them out and in no time at all, they were chatting like old
friends with the Hungry Tiger and the Saw Horse.
Jellia stayed in the garden only a short while, for Jellia had other
things to do. The little Oz Maid was determined to have a party to
celebrate their home coming and soon, in deep conference with the
castle chef, she was planning the most gorgeous feast the Green Castle
ever had known.
It began at noon and lasted till nightfall. Even long after the tall
candles had burned low, the cheery company sat around the royal table
while Dorothy, Jellia and the Scarecrow told and retold their amazing
adventures in the Strat and on Red Top Mountain.
So delightful did Azarine and the two Deer find life in the capitol,
they stayed on and on. Each evening, the girls and Ozma, and her most
important counselors, would gather in her private sitting room. There,
looking at the magic screen, they followed the progress of Nick and the
Wizard as they flew on and on through the strange Highways and Byways
of the Stratosphere.
What a story they will have to tell us when they return.... WHAT a
story!
The End