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AfterbreakfastOzmaannouncedthatshehadorderedaholidaytobeobservedthroughouttheEmeraldCity,inhonorofhervisitors.
ThepeoplehadlearnedthattheiroldWizardhadreturnedtothemandallwereanxioustoseehimagain,forhehadalwaysbeenararefavorite.
Sofirsttherewastobeagrandprocessionthroughthestreets,afterwhichthelittleoldmanwasrequestedtoperformsomeofhiswizardriesinthegreatThroneRoomofthepalace.
Intheafternoonthereweretobegamesandraces.
Theprocessionwasveryimposing.FirstcametheImperialCornetBandofOz,dressedinemeraldvelvetuniformswithslashesofpea-greensatinandbuttonsofimmensecutemeralds.
TheyplayedtheNationalaircalled“TheOzSpangledBanner,”andbehindthemwerethestandardbearerswiththeRoyalflag.
Thisflagwasdividedintofourquarters,onebeingcoloredsky-blue,anotherpink,athirdlavenderandafourthwhite.
Inthecenterwasalargeemerald-greenstar,andalloverthefourquartersweresewnspanglesthatglitteredbeautifullyinthesunshine.
ThecolorsrepresentedthefourcountriesofOz,andthegreenstartheEmeraldCity.
Justbehindtheroyalstandard-bearerscamethePrincessOzmainherroyalchariot,whichwasofgoldencrustedwithemeraldsanddiamondssetinexquisitedesigns.
ThechariotwasdrawnonthisoccasionbytheCowardlyLionandtheHungryTiger,whoweredecoratedwithimmensepinkandbluebows.
InthechariotrodeOzmaandDorothy,theformerinsplendidraimentandwearingherroyalcoronet,whilethelittleKansasgirlworearoundherwaisttheMagicBeltshehadoncecapturedfromtheNomeKing.
FollowingthechariotcametheScarecrowmountedontheSawhorse,andthepeoplecheeredhimalmostasloudlyastheydidtheirlovelyRuler.
Behindhimstalkedwithregular,jerkysteps,thefamousmachine-mancalledTik-tok,whohadbeenwoundupbyDorothyfortheoccasion.
Tik-tokmovedbyclockwork,andwasmadeallofburnishedcopper.
HereallybelongedtotheKansasgirl,whohadmuchrespectforhisthoughtsaftertheyhadbeenproperlywoundandsetgoing;butasthecoppermanwouldbeuselessinanyplacebutafairycountryDorothyhadlefthiminchargeofOzma,whosawthathewassuitablycaredfor.
Therefollowedanotherbandafterthis,whichwascalledtheRoyalCourtBand,becausethemembersalllivedinthepalace.
Theyworewhiteuniformswithrealdiamondbuttonsandplayed“WhatisOzwithoutOzma”verysweetly.
ThencameProfessorWoggle-Bug,withagroupofstudentsfromtheRoyalCollegeofScientificAthletics.
Theboysworelonghairandstripedsweatersandyelledtheircollegeyelleveryothersteptheytook,tothegreatsatisfactionofthepopulace,whichwasgladtohavethisevidencethattheirlungswereingoodcondition.
ThebrilliantlypolishedTinWoodmanmarchednext,attheheadoftheRoyalArmyofOzwhichconsistedoftwenty-eightofficers,fromGeneralsdowntoCaptains.
Therewerenoprivatesinthearmybecauseallweresocourageousandskillfulthattheyhadbeenpromotedonebyoneuntiltherewerenoprivatesleft.
Jimandthebuggyfollowed,theoldcab-horsebeingdrivenbyZebwhiletheWizardstoodupontheseatandbowedhisbaldheadrightandleftinanswertothecheersofthepeople,whocrowdedthickabouthim.
Takenaltogethertheprocessionwasagrandsuccess,andwhenithadreturnedtothepalacethecitizenscrowdedintothegreatThroneRoomtoseetheWizardperformhistricks.
Thefirstthingthelittlehumbugdidwastoproduceatinywhitepigletfromunderneathhishatandpretendtopullitapart,makingtwo.
Thisactherepeateduntilalloftheninetinypigletswerevisible,andtheyweresogladtogetoutofhispocketthattheyranaroundinaverylivelymanner.
Theprettylittlecreatureswouldhavebeenanoveltyanywhere,sothepeoplewereasamazedanddelightedattheirappearanceaseventheWizardcouldhavedesired.
WhenhehadmadethemalldisappearagainOzmadeclaredshewassorrytheyweregone,forshewantedoneofthemtopetandplaywith.
SotheWizardpretendedtotakeoneofthepigletsoutofthehairofthePrincess(whilereallyheslylytookitfromhisinsidepocket)andOzmasmiledjoyouslyasthecreaturenestledinherarms,andshepromisedtohaveanemeraldcollarmadeforitsfatneckandtokeepthelittlesquealeralwaysathandtoamuseher.
AfterwarditwasnoticedthattheWizardalwaysperformedhisfamoustrickwitheightpiglets,butitseemedtopleasethepeoplejustaswellasiftherehadbeennineofthem.
InhislittleroombackoftheThroneRoomtheWizardhadfoundalotofthingshehadleftbehindhimwhenhewentawayintheballoon,fornoonehadoccupiedtheapartmentinhisabsence.
Therewasenoughmaterialtheretoenablehimtoprepareseveralnewtrickswhichhehadlearnedfromsomeofthejugglersinthecircus,andhehadpassedpartofthenightingettingthemready.
SohefollowedthetrickoftheninetinypigletswithseveralotherwonderfulfeatsthatgreatlydelightedhisaudienceandthepeopledidnotseemtocareabitwhetherthelittlemanwasahumbugWizardornot,solongashesucceededinamusingthem.
Theyapplaudedallhistricksandattheendoftheperformancebeggedhimearnestlynottogoawayagainandleavethem.
“Inthatcase,”saidthelittleman,gravely,“IwillcancelallofmyengagementsbeforethecrownedheadsofEuropeandAmericaanddevotemyselftothepeopleofOz,forIloveyouallsowellthatIcandenyyounothing.”
AfterthepeoplehadbeendismissedwiththispromiseourfriendsjoinedPrincessOzmaatanelaborateluncheoninthepalace,whereeventheTigerandtheLionweresumptuouslyfedandJimtheCab-horseatehisoatmealoutofagoldenbowlwithsevenrowsofrubies,sapphiresanddiamondssetaroundtherimofit.
Intheafternoontheyallwenttoagreatfieldoutsidethecitygateswherethegamesweretobeheld.
TherewasabeautifulcanopyforOzmaandhergueststositunderandwatchthepeoplerunracesandjumpandwrestle.
YoumaybesurethefolksofOzdidtheirbestwithsuchadistinguishedcompanywatchingthem,andfinallyZebofferedtowrestlewithalittleMunchkinwhoseemedtobethechampion.
InappearancehewastwiceasoldasZeb,forhehadlongpointedwhiskersandworeapeakedhatwithlittlebellsallaroundthebrimofit,whichtinkledgailyashemoved.
ButalthoughtheMunchkinwashardlytallenoughtocometoZeb’sshoulderhewassostrongandcleverthathelaidtheboythreetimesonhisbackwithapparentease.
Zebwasgreatlyastonishedathisdefeat,andwhentheprettyPrincessjoinedherpeopleinlaughingathimheproposedaboxing-matchwiththeMunchkin,towhichthelittleOzitereadilyagreed.
ButthefirsttimethatZebmanagedtogivehimasharpboxontheearstheMunchkinsatdownuponthegroundandcrieduntilthetearsrandownhiswhiskers,becausehehadbeenhurt.
ThismadeZeblaugh,inturn,andtheboyfeltcomfortedtofindthatOzmalaughedasmerrilyatherweepingsubjectasshehadathim.
JustthentheScarecrowproposedaracebetweentheSawhorseandtheCab-horse;andalthoughalltheothersweredelightedatthesuggestiontheSawhorsedrewback,saying:
“Sucharacewouldnotbefair.”
“Ofcoursenot,”addedJim,withatouchofscorn;“thoselittlewoodenlegsofyoursarenothalfaslongasmyown.”
“Itisn’tthat,”saidtheSawhorse,modestly;“butInevertire,andyoudo.”
“Bah!”criedJim,lookingwithgreatdisdainattheother;“doyouimagineforaninstantthatsuchashabbyimitationofahorseasyouarecanrunasfastasI?”
“Idon’tknow,I’msure,”repliedtheSawhorse.
“Thatiswhatwearetryingtofindout,”remarkedtheScarecrow.“Theobjectofaraceistoseewhocanwinit—oratleastthatiswhatmyexcellentbrainsthink.”
“Once,whenIwasyoung,”saidJim,“Iwasaracehorse,anddefeatedallwhodaredrunagainstme.IwasborninKentucky,youknow,whereallthebestandmostaristocratichorsescomefrom.”
“Butyou’reold,now,Jim,”suggestedZeb.
“Old!Why,Ifeellikeacolttoday,”repliedJim.“Ionlywishtherewasarealhorsehereformetoracewith.I’dshowthepeopleafinesight,Icantellyou.”
“ThenwhynotracewiththeSawhorse?”enquiredtheScarecrow.
“He’safraid,”saidJim.
“Oh,no,”answeredtheSawhorse.“Imerelysaiditwasn’tfair.ButifmyfriendtheRealHorseiswillingtoundertaketheraceIamquiteready.”
SotheyunharnessedJimandtookthesaddleofftheSawhorse,andthetwostrangelymatchedanimalswerestoodsidebysideforthestart.
“WhenIsay‘Go!’”Zebcalledtothem,“youmustdigoutandraceuntilyoureachthosethreetreesyouseeoveryonder.
Thencircle‘roundthemandcomebackagain.
ThefirstonethatpassestheplacewherethePrincesssitsshallbenamedthewinner.Areyouready?”
“IsupposeIoughttogivethewoodendummyagoodstartofme,”growledJim.
“Nevermindthat,”saidtheSawhorse.“I’lldothebestIcan.”
“Go!”criedZeb;andatthewordthetwohorsesleapedforwardandtheracewasbegun.
Jim’sbighoofspoundedawayatagreatrate,andalthoughhedidnotlookverygracefulheraninawaytodocredittohisKentuckybreeding.
ButtheSawhorsewasswifterthanthewind.
Itswoodenlegsmovedsofastthattheirtwinklingcouldscarcelybeseen,andalthoughsomuchsmallerthanthecab-horseitcoveredthegroundmuchfaster.
BeforetheyhadreachedthetreestheSawhorsewasfarahead,andthewoodenanimalreturnedtothestartingplaceandwasbeinglustilycheeredbytheOzitesbeforeJimcamepantinguptothecanopywherethePrincessandherfriendswereseated.
IamsorrytorecordthefactthatJimwasnotonlyashamedofhisdefeatbutforamomentlostcontrolofhistemper.
AshelookedatthecomicalfaceoftheSawhorseheimaginedthatthecreaturewaslaughingathim;soinafitofunreasonableangerheturnedaroundandmadeaviciouskickthatsenthisrivaltumblingheadoverheelsupontheground,andbrokeoffoneofitslegsanditsleftear.
AninstantlatertheTigercrouchedandlauncheditshugebodythroughtheairswiftandresistlessasaballfromacannon.
ThebeaststruckJimfullonhisshoulderandsenttheastonishedcab-horserollingoverandover,amidshoutsofdelightfromthespectators,whohadbeenhorrifiedbytheungraciousacthehadbeenguiltyof.
WhenJimcametohimselfandsatuponhishauncheshefoundtheCowardlyLioncrouchedononesideofhimandtheHungryTigerontheother,andtheireyeswereglowinglikeballsoffire.
“Ibegyourpardon,I’msure,”saidJim,meekly.
“IwaswrongtokicktheSawhorse,andIamsorryIbecameangryathim.
Hehaswontherace,andwonitfairly;butwhatcanahorseoffleshdoagainstatirelessbeastofwood?”
HearingthisapologytheTigerandtheLionstoppedlashingtheirtailsandretreatedwithdignifiedstepstothesideofthePrincess.
“Noonemustinjureoneofourfriendsinourpresence,”growledtheLion;andZebrantoJimandwhisperedthatunlesshecontrolledhistemperinthefuturehewouldprobablybetorntopieces.
ThentheTinWoodmancutastraightandstronglimbfromatreewithhisgleamingaxeandmadeanewlegandanewearfortheSawhorse;andwhentheyhadbeensecurelyfastenedinplacePrincessOzmatookthecoronetfromherownheadandplacedituponthatofthewinneroftherace.Saidshe:
“Myfriend,IrewardyouforyourswiftnessbyproclaimingyouPrinceofHorses,whetherofwoodorofflesh;andhereafterallotherhorses—intheLandofOz,atleast—mustbeconsideredimitations,andyoutherealChampionofyourrace.”
Therewasmoreapplauseatthis,andthenOzmahadthejeweledsaddlereplacedupontheSawhorseandherselfrodethevictorbacktothecityattheheadofthegrandprocession.
“Ioughttobeafairy,”grumbledJim,asheslowlydrewthebuggyhome;“fortobejustanordinaryhorseinafairycountryistobeofnoaccountwhatever.It’snoplaceforus,Zeb.”
“It’sluckywegothere,though,”saidtheboy;andJimthoughtofthedarkcave,andagreedwithhim.
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