L. Frank Baum - Oz 37 Read online

  The four old friends were silent, each turning over the problem in his own mind. The bench on which Trot and Cap’n Bill were sitting was in front of a high hedge C4 so high that none of them could see over it. On the other side of the thick hedge ran another garden path. Suddenly, they heard footsteps as if several people were hurrying down the garden path which was hidden from their view. While they listened, wondering who it could be, the footsteps halted just opposite them on the other side of the hedge. Before they could call out a greeting, they recognized the voice of the Wizard saying: “We can talk here. There’s no one about. Now tell me, why are we wasting time in the garden?”

  “Because,” it was the voice of Dorothy replying, “it would look suspicious if we did not leave the Chamber of Magic occasionally.” “Have you found the spell yet?” asked the Wizard’s voice.

  “Not yet,” replied Dorothy’s voice. “I’ve been through only half of Ozma’s

  magic record books. Give me time C4 it’s there. And I’ll find it!” “Time!” replied the Wizard’s voice, raised in excitement. “We have no time

  to lose! Do you realize that Ozma and Glinda will be back in a day and a

  half? We must find the spell before then if we don’t want Ozma to wreck our

  plans and rob us of the chance we have waited for!”

  “Never fear,” asserted Dorothy’s voice. “I’ll find the spell long before

  Ozma and Glinda return. We’ll be ready for those two when they do come

  back!”

  Gradually the voices subsided as the two walked slowly down the garden path toward the Royal Palace. On the other side of the hedge, Trot, Cap’n Bill, Scraps and the Scarecrow stared at one another in bewilderment. What could this mean? It was incredible that Dorothy and the Wizard could be plotting against their dearest friends, Ozma and Glinda.

  CHAPTER 7

  IN THE CAVERN OF THE DOOMED

  Neither Dorothy nor the Wizard could tell how long they lay in their cavern prison deep in hollow Mount Illuso, but it is certain that minutes seemed like hours to them.

  While the Wizard had recognized the country to which he and Dorothy had been carried as the Land of the Phanfasms, he was not aware of the existence of Mount Illuso and its Mimic dwellers. He was sure, however, that the creatures who had captured Dorothy and him were not Phanfasms. He had seen the Phanfasms when those evil creatures had once attempted to invade Oz,

  and they bore no resemblance to the beings who had made Dorothy and him captives.

  Dorothy found some comfort in telling herself that as soon as Ozma and Glinda returned to the Emerald City the imposters would be detected and she and the Wizard speedily rescued. But what if Ozma and Glinda were deceived? How long would she and the Wizard be kept in the cave? What wicked plot was behind all this? And just how powerful and clever were the creatures who had captured her and the Wizard?

  Suddenly something happened that banished all these puzzling questions.

  There was a light in the cavern! The two prisoners could see each other!

  True, the light was feeble, but it was increasing steadily in strength. As

  the light grew more brilliant, Dorothy felt pleasantly warm and glowing, as

  though she were lying in bright sunlight. And then to her intense joy the

  little girl realized that the spell cast on her was broken. The light had

  released her. She was free to move about as she pleased. Dorothy jumped happily to her feet. The Wizard, too, was freed from the

  spell, and a moment later was standing, smiling broadly with satisfaction. “Was the light your magic, Wizard?” asked Dorothy eagerly. “No, my dear, I had nothing to do with the light,” replied the Wizard. “But I wonder who or what turned it on,” said Dorothy. “Could it be a trick,

  do you think?” she asked after a moment’s hesitation. “No, I believe not,” replied the Wizard. “There would be no point in our

  captors’ troubling themselves to enchant us and make us prisoners and then

  releasing us from the enchantment. I believe we will find this light is a

  part of a greater mystery than we know anything about.”

  “Well, seems to me there’s plenty of mystery about everything that’s

  happened today,” said Dorothy. “What are we going to do now, Wizard?” “Explore our prison,” answered the little man promptly. Dorothy looked about her. They were entirely surrounded by the solid stone walls of the cavern, which was about one hundred feet square. She could detect no sign of the door by which they had entered. “Look, Wizard,” Dorothy exclaimed. “See how the light shines from one small point in the far end of the cavern?”

  “Yes,” agreed the Wizard. “It’s almost as if someone had built a powerful flashlight into the stone wall. Come, let’s examine the light more closely.”

  The two walked to the opposite side of the cavern and found that, as Dorothy had observed, the flood of light originated from one small point. This point was a circular bit of stone, round and polished, and no larger than a small button. “Why,” exclaimed Dorothy, “it looks ‘zactly like the button of an electric light switch! Wonder what would happen if I pressed it?” Impulsively, Dorothy reached out and pressed the button of rock with her finger. In the deep silence that filled the cave, the two adventurers detected a faraway humming sound like the whirring of wheels in motion. As Dorothy and the Wizard listened, the sound grew louder. “What do you suppose it is?” whispered Dorothy.

  “I haven’t the faintest idea,” said the Wizard, “but I don’t think we’ll have to wait long to find out.”

  At last the whirring noise seemed to be just opposite them on the other side of the stone wall. It stopped completely, and there was silence. A second later a section of the stone wall swung outward, and Dorothy and the Wizard

  found themselves staring into a small room C4 much like the car of an elevator. The car was painted bright blue, trimmed with red and gold, and sitting on a small stool was a curious little man.

  CHAPTER 8

  TOTO MAKES A DISCOVERY

  “Where’s Dorothy?” Toto asked pretty little Jellia Jamb, Ozma’s maid, as he paused outside the door of Dorothy’s apartment early in the morning of the day after Ozma and Glinda departed.

  “She’s gone up to the Wizard’s rooms in the tower,” replied Jellia Jamb. “Thanks,” said Toto. “I imagine Dorothy will have her hands full while Ozma is gone.”

  With this the little dog trotted down the corridor, philospohically seeking some other amusement. He hadn’t gone very far before he was hailed by Betsy Bobbin, who appeared with a small wicker basket on her arm. “Hello, Toto!” Betsy called. “Want to go on a picnic with Hank and me? I’m going to pick wildflowers in the green fields outside the Emerald City, and Hank’s coming along. I have a nice picnic lunch packed,” the girl added, indicating the basket she carried.

  Now there were few things Toto liked better than to get out in the country and frolic in the fields, so the little dog accepted the invitation gratefully. A short time later, Betsy, her devoted companion Hank the Mule, and Toto arrived at the gates of the Emerald City and were greeted by Omby Amby, the Soldier with the Green Whiskers. He was very tall and wore a handsome green and gold uniform with a tall, plumed hat. His long, green beard fell below his waist, making him look even taller. In addition to

  being the Keeper of the Gates, Omby Amby was also the Royal Army of Oz, Princess Ozma’s Bodyguard, and the Police Force of the Emerald City. You might suppose that, holding all these offices, Omby Amby was a very busy man. To the contrary, so seldom was there ever any breaking of the Oz laws C4 which were all just and reasonable C4 that it had been many years since the Soldier with the Green Whiskers had acted in any of his official capacities other than that of Keeper of the Gates.

  As Omby Amby unlocked the gates for them, Betsy promised to bring him a bouquet of flowers for his wife, Tollydiggle. Outside the Emerald City lay pleasant, gently rolling fields in w
hich buttercups and daisies grew in profusion. Sniffing the fresh country air, Toto ran happily across the field. Hank hee-hawed loudly and fell to munching the tall field grass. Betsy was delighted with the hundreds of pretty flowers and gathered several large bouquets. Shortly after noon the happy trio sought the shade of a large tree. Nearby, a spring of cool, crystal-clear water bubbled from a mossy bank and flowed across the field as a tiny brook. Betsy opened her basket and took out sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, potato salad and other picnic delicacies, which she and Toto shared. Betsy offered Hank a peanut-butter sandwich, but the Mule refused disdainfully, saying, “No, thank you, Betsy, I much prefer this fresh, green grass.”

  “Well, don’t eat too much of it,” advised the girl, “or you’ll get the colic.”

  The mule winked one eye at Toto and replied, “I’d be much more likely to get the colic if I ate your strange human foods.”

  After they had eaten and refreshed themselves with the water of the spring, they rested for a time in the cool shade of the tree, and then leisurely made their way back to the Emerald City. At the city’s gates, Omby Amby welcomed them back and gratefully accepted the bouquet Betsy gave him for Tollydiggle.

  Arriving at the palace, the three friends said goodbye, Betsy going to her apartment, while Hank made his way to the Royal Stables to talk with his cronies, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger. Jellia Jamb tripped down the palace steps on an errand, and Toto called to her, “Is Dorothy still

  busy?”

  “Yes,” answered Jellia Jamb, “she and the Wizard have been in Ozma’s Chamber of Magic all afternoon.”

  This did not strike the little dog as strange. He knew Ozma might have left instructions for Dorothy and the Wizard to carry out in the Chamber of Magic. As it was now nearly mid-afternoon, Toto decided to have a nap in the garden. Curling up in the cool earth under a large rosebush, he fell asleep, telling himself that he would awaken in time for dinner, when he would surely see Dorothy. Toto knew that however busy Dorothy and the Wizard might be, they would leave the Chamber of Magic and appear for dinner, always a festive occasion in the Grand Dining Room of the Royal Palace.

  Promptly at seven o’clock, the inhabitants of the Royal Palace began to gather in the Grand Dining Room. Cap’n Bill and Trot took their accustomed places at the table, as did Betsy Bobbin, Button Bright, the Shaggy Man, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. While the Scarecrow, the Patchwork Girl and Tik-Tok the Machine Man were non-flesh and could not partake of the food,

  nevertheless they had their places at the table. For these dinners were as much occasions for the enjoyment of merry conversation as they were for satisfying hunger and thirst.

  At the far end of the room was a separate table shared by the animal companions of the Oz people. At this table were set places with the proper foods for Hank the Mule, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Billina the Yellow Hen, Eureka the Pink Kitten, the Woozy, Toto and the Sawhorse. Although the Sawhorse was made of wood and required no food and seldom took part in the conversation, nevertheless the odd steed enjoyed listening to the table talk of the others.

  Everyone was in his place except Dorothy, the Wizard and Toto C4 and of course Ozma’s chair at the head of the table was vacant. Dorothy’s place was at Ozma’s right, while the Wizard sat at her left. A few minutes later, King Umb and Queen Ra, having decided that it would arouse too much comment if they were absent from the dinner, entered the sumptuous dining room and took their places on either side of Ozma’s vacant chair. Now only Toto remained absent. The truth was that the little dog had overslept and had awakened from his nap to find the shadows lengthening across the garden. Realizing he was late for dinner, Toto hurried to the nearest palace entrance and ran as quickly as he could to the Grand Dining Room.

  As he entered, the first course of the meal was being served, and a ripple of conversation rose from the two tables. The Scarecrow and Scraps were chatting together, Betsy was telling Trot about the lovely wildflowers she had found, and the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger were discussing a visit they planned to their old jungle home in the forest far to the south

  in the Quadling Country.

  In spite of the apparent atmosphere of gaiety, this gathering was not at all like the merry company that usually assembled in the dining room for the evening meal. First of all, the absence of the radiant Ozma was keenly felt by the entire gathering, and this automatically subdued the spirit of the occasion. Next, no one at the table had failed to note and wonder at the fact that Dorothy and the Wizard C4 usually so cheerful and cordial C4 had merely nodded unsmilingly20to their assembled friends as they had taken their places at the head of the table. Finally, Scraps, the Scarecrow, Trot and Cap’n Bill, unable to forget the strange conversation they had overheard in the garden earlier in the day, stole curious glances at Dorothy and the Wizard seeking some clue to their unusual behavior. As Toto trotted into the dining room, his bright little eyes immediately sought out his mistress. Toto stopped short; his body became tense with excitement. He barked loudly and then growled, “Where’s Dorothy?” In the silence that fell over the dining room at the dog’s unusual actions, Toto repeated his question. “Where’s Dorothy?” he demanded. The Scarecrow was staring earnestly at Toto. “Why, here’s Dorothy,” the straw man answered. “Right here, where she always sits.” “You’re wrong C4 all of you are wrong,” growled Toto ominously. The little dog was quivering with excitement. “Whoever that is sitting there might fool the rest of you, but she can’t deceive me. She’s not Dorothy at all. Something’s happened to Dorothy!”

  CHAPTER 9

  MR. AND MRS. HI-LO

  “Step right in, folks! Watch your step, Miss. We’re on our way up C4 next stop the top! Only two stops C4 bottom and top. Next stop’s the top!” The little man spoke with an air of importance as he smiled at Dorothy and the Wizard from the stool on which he was perched in the car which the opening in the stone wall had revealed. They peered at him curiously. “Shall we go in?” asked Dorothy, drawing a deep breath. “To be sure,” said the Wizard. “Anything is better than this stone prison.” “Ah, a philosopher, and a wise one, too,” remarked the little man. As soon as Dorothy and the Wizard were in the elevator C4 for such it proved to be C4 the stone door swung shut. At once the little man pressed one of several buttons on the side of the car, and again they heard the whirring sound which had puzzled them in the cavern. Dorothy concluded it was caused by the machinery that operated the elevator. The little car was shooting upward with a speed that caused her ears to ring. “Just swallow several times,” advised the Wizard, sensing Dorothy’s discomfort. “That will make equal the air pressure inside and outside your body. It’s a trick I learned when I went up in my balloon to draw crowds to the circus back in Omaha.”

  Dorothy did as the Wizard suggested and found the ringing sensation disappeared.

  “Who are you?” asked the Wizard, gazing curiously at the little man. “And where are you taking us?”

  “You don’t know who I am?” exclaimed the little man with surprise. “After all, you know, you did ring for the elevator, and since I am the elevator operator, naturally I answered. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is

  Hi-Lo, and I am taking you to the only other place the elevator goes except for the bottom C4 and that’s to the top of Mount Illuso. I assure you it’s a far better place than the bottom!”

  While he spoke, Dorothy had been regarding the little man who called himself Hi-Lo. He was very short, his head coming only to Dorothy’s waist. He was dressed in a bright-blue uniform with big, gold buttons. A red cap was perched at a jaunty angle on his head. His face was round, and his cheeks as rosy as two apples. His blue eyes were very bright and friendly. But the oddest thing about him was that his clothes appeared to be a part of his body, as though they were painted on. And Dorothy concluded he was most certainly made of some substance other than flesh and blood. “Ah, I see I’ve aroused your interest,” remarked the little man with satisfaction. “Well, I’m
proud to tell you that I am made of the finest white pine and painted with quick-drying four-hour enamel that flows easily from the brush and is guaranteed not to chip, crack, craze or peel. I’m easily washable, too; spots and stains wipe off in a jiffy with a damp cloth or sponge C4 no rubbing or scrubbing for me! And I suppose,” Hi-Lo concluded vainly, “you’ve already admired my rich, glossy finish and beautiful rainbow colors.”

  Dorothy smiled at this speech, and the Wizard asked, “Tell me, Hi-Lo, do people live on top of Mount Illuso?”

  “Of course,” Hi-Lo replied in his cheerful voice. “We have a thriving

  community of folks C4 Pineville, it’s called. But we’re all very happy and

  contented,” he went on hastily. “There’s not a lonesome pine among us,

  although are several trails on the mountaintop.” “But are there no flesh and blood folks like us?” queried the Wizard.

  Before Hi-Lo could answer, the elevator came to an abrupt stop. “Well, here we are!” announced Hi-Lo cheerily. He pressed another button. The door of the elevator swung open and Hi-Lo called, “All out! All out! Top floor C4 all kinds of wooden goods, the best pine to be had C4 pine tables, pine chairs, pine houses and pine people!”

  Dorothy and the Wizard stepped from the elevator and surveyed the scene before them. Yes, this was certainly the top of Mount Illuso. The elevator exit was in a large stone wall at least ten feet in height that appeared to circle the edge of the mountaintop. Before them spread a dense pine forest, while a small path led from the elevator to a tiny cottage that stood nearby. The cottage was painted bright blue with trim white shutters, and smoke was rising cheerily from its red brick chimney. “Right this way! Just follow me, folks,” said Hi-Lo, trotting along the path to the cottage, his little wooden legs moving with surprising speed. “Mrs. Hi-Lo will certainly be surprised to see you. You are a real event C4 the very first visitors we have ever had from down below.” As they approached the tiny cottage, the front door swung open, and a little woman stood in the doorway. She was even smaller than Hi-Lo, and like him was made of wood and painted with the same bright enamels. She wore a blue-and-white apron over a red polka-dot dress. On her head was a trim little lace cap. “My goodness!” she beamed. “Visitors at last! Do come in and make yourselves comfortable.”