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Foraconsiderabledistancethewayledstraightupwardinagentleincline,andthewanderersmadesuchgoodprogressthattheygrewhopefulandeager,thinkingtheymightseesunshineatanyminute.
Butatlengththeycameunexpectedlyuponahugerockthatshutoffthepassageandblockedthemfromproceedingasinglestepfarther.
Thisrockwasseparatefromtherestofthemountainandwasinmotion,turningslowlyaroundandaroundasifuponapivot.
Whenfirsttheycametoittherewasasolidwallbeforethem;butpresentlyitrevolveduntiltherewasexposedawide,smoothpathacrossittotheotherside.
Thisappearedsounexpectedlythattheywereunpreparedtotakeadvantageofitatfirst,andallowedtherockywalltoswingaroundagainbeforetheyhaddecidedtopassover.
Buttheyknewnowthattherewasameansofescapeandsowaitedpatientlyuntilthepathappearedforthesecondtime.
ThechildrenandtheWizardrushedacrossthemovingrockandsprangintothepassagebeyond,landingsafelythoughalittleoutofbreath.
Jimthecab-horsecamelast,andtherockywallalmostcaughthim;forjustasheleapedtothefloorofthefurtherpassagethewallswungacrossitandaloosestonethatthebuggywheelsknockedagainstfellintothenarrowcrackwheretherockturned,andbecamewedgedthere.
Theyheardacrunching,grindingsound,aloudsnap,andtheturn-tablecametoastopwithitsbroadestsurfaceshuttingoffthepathfromwhichtheyhadcome.
“Nevermind,”saidZeb,“wedon’twanttogetback,anyhow.”
“I’mnotsosureofthat,”returnedDorothy.“Themotherdragonmaycomedownandcatchushere.”
“Itispossible,”agreedtheWizard,“ifthisprovestobethepathsheusuallytakes.ButIhavebeenexaminingthistunnel,andIdonotseeanysignsofsolargeabeasthavingpassedthroughit.”
“Thenwe’reallright,”saidthegirl,“forifthedragonwenttheotherwayshecan’tposs’blygettousnow.”
“Ofcoursenot,mydear.Butthereisanotherthingtoconsider.
Themotherdragonprobablyknowstheroadtotheearth’ssurface,andifshewenttheotherwaythenwehavecomethewrongway,”saidtheWizard,thoughtfully.
“Dearme!”criedDorothy.“Thatwouldbeunlucky,wouldn’tit?”
“Very.Unlessthispassagealsoleadstothetopoftheearth,”saidZeb.“Formypart,ifwemanagetogetoutofhereI’llbegladitisn’tthewaythedragongoes.”
“SowillI,”returnedDorothy.“It’senoughtohaveyourpedigreeflunginyourfacebythosesaucydragonettes.Nooneknowswhatthemothermightdo.”
Theynowmovedonagain,creepingslowlyupanothersteepincline.
Thelanternswerebeginningtogrowdim,andtheWizardpouredtheremainingoilfromoneintotheother,sothattheonelightwouldlastlonger.
Buttheirjourneywasalmostover,forinashorttimetheyreachedasmallcavefromwhichtherewasnofurtheroutlet.
Theydidnotrealizetheirillfortuneatfirst,fortheirheartsweregladdenedbythesightofarayofsunshinecomingthroughasmallcrackintheroofofthecave,faroverhead.
Thatmeantthattheirworld—therealworld—wasnotveryfaraway,andthatthesuccessionofperilousadventurestheyhadencounteredhadatlastbroughtthemneartheearth’ssurface,whichmeanthometothem.
Butwhentheadventurerslookedmorecarefullyaroundthemtheydiscoveredthattheywereinastrongprisonfromwhichtherewasnohopeofescape.
“Butwe’reALMOSTonearthagain,”criedDorothy,“forthereisthesun—themostBEAU’FULsunthatshines!”andshepointedeagerlyatthecrackinthedistantroof.
“Almostonearthisn’tbeingthere,”saidthekitten,inadiscontentedtone.“Itwouldn’tbepossibleforevenmetogetuptothatcrack—orthroughitifIgotthere.”
“Itappearsthatthepathendshere,”announcedtheWizard,gloomily.
“Andthereisnowaytogoback,”addedZeb,withalowwhistleofperplexity.
“Iwassureitwouldcometothis,intheend,”remarkedtheoldcab-horse.
“Folksdon’tfallintothemiddleoftheearthandthengetbackagaintotelloftheiradventures—notinreallife.
AndthewholethinghasbeenunnaturalbecausethatcatandIarebothabletotalkyourlanguage,andtounderstandthewordsyousay.”
“Andsocantheninetinypiglets,”addedEureka.“Don’tforgetthem,forImayhavetoeatthem,afterall.”
“I’veheardanimalstalkbefore,”saidDorothy,“andnoharmcameofit.”
“Wereyoueverbeforeshutupinacave,farundertheearth,withnowayofgettingout?”enquiredthehorse,seriously.
“No,”answeredDorothy.“Butdon’tyouloseheart,Jim,forI’msurethisisn’ttheendofourstory,byanymeans.”
ThereferencetothepigletsremindedtheWizardthathispetshadnotenjoyedmuchexerciselately,andmustbetiredoftheirprisoninhispocket.
Sohesatdownuponthefloorofthecave,broughtthepigletsoutonebyone,andallowedthemtorunaroundasmuchastheypleased.
“Mydears,”hesaidtothem,“I’mafraidI’vegotyouintoalotoftrouble,andthatyouwillneveragainbeabletoleavethisgloomycave.”
“What’swrong?”askedapiglet.“We’vebeeninthedarkquiteawhile,andyoumayaswellexplainwhathashappened.”
TheWizardtoldthemofthemisfortunethathadovertakenthewanderers.
“Well,”saidanotherpiglet,“youareawizard,areyounot?”
“Iam,”repliedthelittleman.
“Thenyoucandoafewwizzesandgetusoutofthishole,”declaredthetinyone,withmuchconfidence.
“IcouldifIhappenedtobearealwizard,”returnedthemastersadly.“ButI’mnot,mypiggy-wees;I’mahumbugwizard.”
“Nonsense!”criedseveralofthepiglets,together.
“YoucanaskDorothy,”saidthelittleman,inaninjuredtone.
“It’strueenough,”returnedthegirl,earnestly.
“OurfriendOzismerelyahumbugwizard,forheonceprovedittome.
Hecandoseveralverywonderfulthings—ifheknowshow.
Buthecan’twizasinglethingifhehasn’tthetoolsandmachinerytoworkwith.”
“Thankyou,mydear,fordoingmejustice,”respondedtheWizard,gratefully.
“Tobeaccusedofbeingarealwizard,whenI’mnot,isaslanderIwillnottamelysubmitto.
ButIamoneofthegreatesthumbugwizardsthateverlived,andyouwillrealizethiswhenwehaveallstarvedtogetherandourbonesarescatteredoverthefloorofthislonelycave.”
“Idon’tbelievewe’llrealizeanything,whenitcomestothat,”remarkedDorothy,whohadbeendeepinthought.
“ButI’mnotgoingtoscattermybonesjustyet,becauseIneedthem,andyouprob’lyneedyours,too.”
“Wearehelplesstoescape,”sighedtheWizard.
“WEmaybehelpless,”answeredDorothy,smilingathim,“butthereareotherswhocandomorethanwecan.Cheerup,friends.I’msureOzmawillhelpus.”
“Ozma!”exclaimedtheWizard.“WhoisOzma?”
“ThegirlthatrulesthemarvelousLandofOz,”wasthereply.“She’safriendofmine,forImetherintheLandofEv,notlongago,andwenttoOzwithher.”
“Forthesecondtime?”askedtheWizard,withgreatinterest.
“Yes.ThefirsttimeIwenttoOzIfoundyouthere,rulingtheEmeraldCity.Afteryouwentupinaballoon,andescapedus,IgotbacktoKansasbymeansofapairofmagicalsilvershoes.”
“Irememberthoseshoes,”saidthelittleman,nodding.“TheyoncebelongedtotheWickedWitch.Haveyouthemherewithyou?”
“No;Ilostthemsomewhereintheair,”explainedthechild.“ButthesecondtimeIwenttotheLandofOzIownedtheNomeKing’sMagicBelt,whichismuchmorepowerfulthanweretheSilverShoes.”
“WhereisthatMagicBelt?”enquiredtheWizard,whohadlistenedwithgreatinterest.
“Ozmahasit;foritspowerswon’tworkinacommon,ordinarycountryliketheUnitedStates.
AnyoneinafairycountryliketheLandofOzcandoanythingwithit;soIleftitwithmyfriendthePrincessOzma,whousedittowishmeinAustraliawithUncleHenry.”
“Andwereyou?”askedZeb,astonishedatwhatheheard.
“Ofcourse;injustajiffy.AndOzmahasanenchantedpicturehanginginherroomthatshowshertheexactscenewhereanyofherfriendsmaybe,atanytimeshechooses.
Allshehastodoistosay:‘IwonderwhatSo-and-soisdoing,’andatoncethepictureshowswhereherfriendisandwhatthefriendisdoing.
That’sREALmagic,Mr.Wizard;isn’tit?
Well,everydayatfouro’clockOzmahaspromisedtolookatmeinthatpicture,andifIaminneedofhelpIamtomakeheracertainsignandshewillputontheNomeKing’sMagicBeltandwishmetobewithherinOz.”
“DoyoumeanthatPrincessOzmawillseethiscaveinherenchantedpicture,andseeallofushere,andwhatwearedoing?”demandedZeb.
“Ofcourse;whenitisfouro’clock,”shereplied,withalaughathisstartledexpression.
“AndwhenyoumakeasignshewillbringyoutoherintheLandofOz?”continuedtheboy.
“That’sit,exactly;bymeansoftheMagicBelt.”
“Then,”saidtheWizard,“youwillbesaved,littleDorothy;andIamverygladofit.Therestofuswilldiemuchmorecheerfullywhenweknowyouhaveescapedoursadfate.”
“Iwon’tdiecheerfully!”protestedthekitten.“There’snothingcheerfulaboutdyingthatIcouldeversee,althoughtheysayacathasninelives,andsomustdieninetimes.”
“Haveyoueverdiedyet?”enquiredtheboy.
“No,andI’mnotanxioustobegin,”saidEureka.
“Don’tworry,dear,”Dorothyexclaimed,“I’llholdyouinmyarms,andtakeyouwithme.”
“Takeus,too!”criedtheninetinypiglets,allinonebreath.
“PerhapsIcan,”answeredDorothy.“I’lltry.”
“Couldn’tyoumanagetoholdmeinyourarms?”askedthecab-horse.
Dorothylaughed.
“I’lldobetterthanthat,”shepromised,“forIcaneasilysaveyouall,onceIammyselfintheLandofOz.”
“How?”theyasked.
“ByusingtheMagicBelt.AllIneeddoistowishyouwithme,andthereyou’llbe—safeintheroyalpalace!”
“Good!”criedZeb.
“Ibuiltthatpalace,andtheEmeraldCity,too,”remarkedtheWizard,inathoughtfultone,“andI’dliketoseethemagain,forIwasveryhappyamongtheMunchkinsandWinkiesandQuadlingsandGillikins.”
“Whoarethey?”askedtheboy.
“ThefournationsthatinhabittheLandofOz,”wasthereply.“IwonderiftheywouldtreatmenicelyifIwentthereagain.”
“Ofcoursetheywould!”declaredDorothy.“TheyarestillproudoftheirformerWizard,andoftenspeakofyoukindly.”
“DoyouhappentoknowwhateverbecameoftheTinWoodmanandtheScarecrow?”heenquired.
“TheyliveinOzyet,”saidthegirl,“andareveryimportantpeople.”
“AndtheCowardlyLion?”
“Oh,helivestheretoo,withhisfriendtheHungryTiger;andBillinaisthere,becauseshelikedtheplacebetterthanKansas,andwouldn’tgowithmetoAustralia.”
“I’mafraidIdon’tknowtheHungryTigerandBillina,”saidtheWizard,shakinghishead.“IsBillinaagirl?”
“No;she’sayellowhen,andagreatfriendofmine.You’resuretolikeBillina,whenyouknowher,”assertedDorothy.
“Yourfriendssoundlikeamenagerie,”remarkedZeb,uneasily.“Couldn’tyouwishmeinsomesaferplacethanOz.”
“Don’tworry,”repliedthegirl.“You’lljustlovethefolksinOz,whenyougetacquainted.Whattimeisit,Mr.Wizard?”
Thelittlemanlookedathiswatch—abigsilveronethathecarriedinhisvestpocket.
“Half-pastthree,”hesaid.
“Thenwemustwaitforhalfanhour,”shecontinued;“butitwon’ttakelong,afterthat,tocarryusalltotheEmeraldCity.”
Theysatsilentlythinkingforatime.ThenJimsuddenlyasked:
“ArethereanyhorsesinOz?”
“Onlyone,”repliedDorothy,“andhe’sasawhorse.”
“Awhat?”
“Asawhorse.PrincessOzmaoncebroughthimtolifewithawitch-powder,whenshewasaboy.”
“WasOzmaonceaboy?”askedZeb,wonderingly.
“Yes;awickedwitchenchantedher,soshecouldnotruleherkingdom.Butshe’sagirlnow,andthesweetest,loveliestgirlinalltheworld.”
“Asawhorseisathingtheysawboardson,”remarkedJim,withasniff.
“Itiswhenit’snotalive,”acknowledgedthegirl.“Butthissawhorsecantrotasfastasyoucan,Jim;andhe’sverywise,too.”
“Pah!I’llracethemiserablewoodendonkeyanydayintheweek!”criedthecab-horse.
Dorothydidnotreplytothat.ShefeltthatJimwouldknowmoreabouttheSawhorselateron.
Thetimedraggedwearilyenoughtotheeagerwatchers,butfinallytheWizardannouncedthatfouro’clockhadarrived,andDorothycaughtupthekittenandbegantomakethesignalthathadbeenagreedupontothefar-awayinvisibleOzma.
“Nothingseemstohappen,”saidZeb,doubtfully.
“Oh,wemustgiveOzmatimetoputontheMagicBelt,”repliedthegirl.
Shehadscarcelyspokenthewordsthenshesuddenlydisappearedfromthecave,andwithherwentthekitten.
Therehadbeennosoundofanykindandnowarning.
OnemomentDorothysatbesidethemwiththekitteninherlap,andamomentlaterthehorse,thepiglets,theWizardandtheboywereallthatremainedintheundergroundprison.
“Ibelievewewillsoonfollowher,”announcedtheWizard,inatoneofgreatrelief;“forIknowsomethingaboutthemagicofthefairylandthatiscalledtheLandofOz.
Letusbeready,forwemaybesentforanyminute.”
HeputthepigletssafelyawayinhispocketagainandthenheandZebgotintothebuggyandsatexpectantlyupontheseat.
“Willithurt?”askedtheboy,inavoicethattrembledalittle.
“Notatall,”repliedtheWizard.“Itwillallhappenasquickasawink.”
Andthatwasthewayitdidhappen.
Thecab-horsegaveanervousstartandZebbegantorubhiseyestomakesurehewasnotasleep.
Fortheywereinthestreetsofabeautifulemerald-greencity,bathedinagratefulgreenlightthatwasespeciallypleasingtotheireyes,andsurroundedbymerryfacedpeopleingorgeousgreen-and-goldcostumesofmanyextraordinarydesigns.
Beforethemwerethejewel-studdedgatesofamagnificentpalace,andnowthegatesopenedslowlyasifinvitingthemtoenterthecourtyard,wheresplendidflowerswerebloomingandprettyfountainsshottheirsilveryspraysintotheair.
Zebshookthereinstorousethecab-horsefromhisstuporofamazement,forthepeoplewerebeginningtogatheraroundandstareatthestrangers.
“Gid-dap!”criedtheboy,andatthewordJimslowlytrottedintothecourtyardanddrewthebuggyalongthejeweleddrivewaytothegreatentranceoftheroyalpalace.
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