The Forbidden Flagon Acts
The great banquet hall seemed suddenly deserted, and except for faint
squeaks and muffled screams quite silent. Shirley Sunshine, hurrying
around the table, clasped Ozma's hands and both girls stared in stunned
silence at Jack, who was calmly replacing his head.
"Why, where have they gone?" cried Ozma. Then all at once she saw, for
tumbling from the chairs, scurrying under tables and vainly trying to
hide themselves, was a host of men no bigger than brownies.
"They're shrunk," shouted Jack delightedly. "Ha there, Mogodore the
Mighty, mighty little you are now!" Fuming and raging, the midget baron
tried to quiet his frightened retainers, but when Toto, Dorothy's
little dog, came bounding through the doorway, he fled ignominiously
and hid behind the hearth broom.
"Good dog Toto, drive them in the corner," approved Jack and Toto,
much as a shepherd dog chases sheep, drove the terrified horde of
invaders into a corner and gravely sat down to watch them, snapping
at any who tried to escape and snuffing at one and then another most
curiously.
"It was the forbidden flagon," explained Jack, as Ozma dropped into a
chair and looked in complete bewilderment at the brownie baron and his
band. "Is anyone hurt? Did I come in time?"
"Yes! Yes!" sighed Ozma, pushing back her tumbled curls. "But how did
you know? Where have you been, Jack dear?"
"Where haven't I been," puffed Jack Pumpkinhead, striding excitedly up
and down. "Say, what's that noise? Where is everybody?"
"Oh!" cried Ozma, jumping up hurriedly. "The others are in the garden.
We must free them at once." But before Shirley Sunshine, Ozma or Jack
were halfway to the door it burst open, and the whole company of
courtiers and celebrities came charging into the banquet hall.
"Surrender, villains," bellowed Sir Hokus, glaring around furiously.
"Where is that braggart Baron!"
"We'll pull his nose! We'll tweak his ears!
Glinda the Good has come, she's here!"
exulted Scraps, shaking her cotton fists joyfully, for she had been
immediately restored to her own cheerful self by the Good Sorceress
of the South. Glinda, in her lovely red robes and head-dress, peered
sternly over Scraps' shoulder, ready to bring her strongest magic into
play. Seeing no one in the room but Ozma, Jack and Shirley Sunshine,
they all stopped short; then catching sight of Mogodore and his
midgets, cowering in the corner, they surged forward in still greater
astonishment.
"What happened?" demanded Dorothy, seizing Ozma's hands. "The spearmen
in the garden suddenly disappeared. Scraps reached Glinda's castle and
Glinda came and released us. But whatever happened in here? How did
that monster grow so tiny?"
"Perhaps Jack can tell you," sighed Ozma, who was as puzzled as anyone
over the curious occurrences of the last few minutes.
"I can," announced Jack, stepping forward importantly, "but it is a
long, long story."
"Then do let's sit down," groaned Trot, for she was mortally tired from
the long stand in the garden.
"Are we saved?" quavered the Cowardly Lion, as the stiff and weary
company fell into the chairs so recently vacated by the conquerors of
Oz. Jack nodded emphatically.
"Then I will attend to the prisoners," boomed the Soldier with the
Green Whiskers, springing out from behind a pillar, and very brave
since the enemy had been reduced. Striding over to the corner, he stood
over the disconsolate warriors, his gun sternly pointed downward. Now
Betsy picked up the magic belt from the floor, where it had fallen when
Mogodore shrunk, and fastened it thankfully round Ozma's waist. Scraps
set the emerald crown upon her curly head, and with great gentleness
and ceremony the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman conducted the little ruler
to her rightful place at the head of the table. Then the Scarecrow ran
out to release the servants, who were locked up in the summer house,
the Wizard ran to see if his black bag was safe, Trot wound up Tik Tok,
who was completely run down by his terrible experiences, and everybody
settled back expectantly to hear what Jack Pumpkinhead had to say.
"Now tell us exactly what happened," begged Betsy Bobbin, as the
Scarecrow and all the servants came marching into the dining hall and
the Wizard, tightly clutching his black bag, slipped into a seat beside
Dorothy.
"Well," said Jack, with a dignified little cough, "before I begin to
tell you that, there is something I must do and three brave comrades to
be released from an enchantment. The advice of my friend, the Red Jinn,
worked once and I shall therefore try it again."
"Before he speaks he must act," chuckled the Scarecrow, who had
completely recovered his good humor. "Well, my boy, actions speak
louder than words." Leaning on both elbows, the Scarecrow looked on
with great interest as Jack snatched the pirate sack from his shoulder,
turned it inside out and gave it three quick shakes.