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OnleavingtheGrowleywogsGeneralGuphhadtorecrosstheRippleLands,andhedidnotfinditapleasantthingtodo.
Perhapshavinghiswhiskerspulledoutonebyoneandbeingusedasapin-cushionfortheinnocentamusementofagoodnaturedjailerhadnotimprovedthequalityofGuph’stemper,fortheoldNomeravedandragedattherecollectionofthewrongshehadsuffered,andvowedtotakevengeanceupontheGrowleywogsafterhehadusedthemforhispurposesandOzhadbeenconquered.
HewentoninthisfuriouswayuntilhewashalfacrosstheRippleLand.
Thenhebecameseasick,andtherestofthewaythisnaughtyNomewasalmostasmiserableashedeservedtobe.
Butwhenhereachedtheplainsagainandthegroundwasfirmunderhisfeethebegantofeelbetter,andinsteadofgoingbackhomeheturneddirectlywest.
Asquirrel,perchedinatree,sawhimtakethisroadandcalledtohimwarningly:“Lookout!”Buthepaidnoattention.
Aneaglepausedinitsflightthroughtheairtolookathimwonderinglyandsay:“Lookout!”Butonhewent.
NoonecansaythatGuphwasnotbrave,forhehaddeterminedtovisitthosedangerouscreaturesthePhanfasms,whoresidedupontheverytopofthedreadMountainofPhantastico.
ThePhanfasmswereErbs,andsodreadedbymortalsandimmortalsalikethatnoonehadbeenneartheirmountainhomeforseveralthousandyears.
YetGeneralGuphhopedtoinducethemtojoininhisproposedwarfareagainstthegoodandhappyOzpeople.
GuphknewverywellthatthePhanfasmswouldbealmostasdangeroustotheNomesastheywouldtotheOzites,buthethoughthimselfsocleverthathebelievedhecouldmanagethesestrangecreaturesandmakethemobeyhim.
AndtherewasnodoubtatallthatifhecouldenlisttheservicesofthePhanfasms,theirtremendouspower,unitedtothestrengthoftheGrowleywogsandthecunningoftheWhimsieswoulddoomtheLandofOztoabsolutedestruction.
SotheoldNomeclimbedthefoothillsandtrudgedalongthewildmountainpathsuntilhecametoabiggullythatencircledtheMountainofPhantasticoandmarkedtheboundarylineofthedominionofthePhanfasms.
Thisgullywasaboutathirdofthewayupthemountain,anditwasfilledtothebrimwithred-hotmoltenlavainwhichswamfire-serpentsandpoisonoussalamanders.
Theheatfromthismassanditspoisonoussmellwerebothsounbearablethatevenbirdshesitatedtoflyoverthegully,butcircledaroundit.
Alllivingthingskeptawayfromthemountain.
NowGuphhadheard,duringhislonglifetime,manytalesofthesedreadedPhanfasms;sohehadheardofthisbarrierofmeltedlava,andalsohehadbeentoldthattherewasanarrowbridgethatspanneditinoneplace.
Sohewalkedalongtheedgeuntilhefoundthebridge.
Itwasasinglearchofgraystone,andlyingflatuponthebridgewasascarletalligator,seeminglyfastasleep.
WhenGuphstumbledovertherocksinapproachingthebridgethecreatureopeneditseyes,fromwhichtinyflamesshotinalldirections,andafterlookingattheintruderverywickedlythescarletalligatorcloseditseyelidsagainandlaystill.
Guphsawtherewasnoroomforhimtopassthealligatoronthenarrowbridge,sohecalledouttoit:
“Goodmorning,friend.Idon’twishtohurryyou,butpleasetellmeifyouarecomingdown,orgoingup?”
“Neither,”snappedthealligator,clickingitscrueljawstogether.
TheGeneralhesitated.
“Areyoulikelytostaytherelong?”heasked.
“Afewhundredyearsorso,”saidthealligator.
Guphsoftlyrubbedtheendofhisnoseandtriedtothinkwhattodo.
“DoyouknowwhethertheFirstandForemostPhanfasmofPhantasticoisathomeornot?”hepresentlyinquired.
“Iexpectheis,seeingheisalwaysathome,”repliedthealligator.
“Ah;whoisthatcomingdownthemountain?”askedtheNome,gazingupward.
Thealligatorturnedtolookoveritsshoulder,andatonceGuphrantothebridgeandleapedoverthesentinel’sbackbeforeitcouldturnbackagain.
ThescarletmonstermadeasnapattheNome’sleftfoot,butmisseditbyfullyaninch.
“Ahha!”laughedtheGeneral,whowasnowonthemountainpath.“Ifooledyouthattime.”
“Soyoudid;andperhapsyoufooledyourself,”retortedthealligator.“Goupthemountain,ifyoudare,andfindoutwhattheFirstandForemostwilldotoyou!”
“Iwill,”declaredGuph,boldly;andonhewentupthepath.
Atfirstthescenewaswildenough,butgraduallyitgrewmoreandmoreawfulinappearance.
Alltherockshadtheshapesoffrightfulbeingsandeventhetreetrunksweregnarledandtwistedlikeserpents.
SuddenlythereappearedbeforetheNomeamanwiththeheadofanowl.
Hisbodywashairylikethatofanape,andhisonlyclothingwasascarletscarftwistedaroundhiswaist.
Heboreahugeclubinhishandandhisroundowleyesblinkedfiercelyupontheintruder.
“Whatareyoudoinghere?”hedemanded,threateningGuphwithhisclub.
“I’vecometoseetheFirstandForemostPhanfasmofPhantastico,”repliedtheGeneral,whodidnotlikethewaythiscreaturelookedathim,butstillwasnotafraid.
“Ah;youshallseehim!”themansaid,withasneeringlaugh.“TheFirstandForemostshalldecideuponthebestwaytopunishyou.”
“Hewillnotpunishme,”returnedGuph,calmly,“forIhavecomeheretodohimandhispeopleararefavor.Leadon,fellow,andtakemedirectlytoyourmaster.”
Theowl-manraisedhisclubwithathreateninggesture.
“Ifyoutrytoescape,”hesaid,“beware—”
ButheretheGeneralinterruptedhim.
“Spareyourthreats,”saidhe,“anddonotbeimpertinent,orIwillhaveyouseverelypunished.Leadon,andkeepsilent!”
ThisGuphwasreallyacleverrascal,anditseemsapityhewassobad,forinagoodcausehemighthaveaccomplishedmuch.
Herealizedthathehadputhimselfintoadangerouspositionbycomingtothisdreadfulmountain,buthealsoknewthatifheshowedfearhewaslost.
Soheadoptedaboldmannerashisbestdefense.
Thewisdomofthisplanwassoonevident,forthePhanfasmwiththeowl’sheadturnedandledthewayupthemountain.
Attheverytopwasalevelplainuponwhichwereheapsofrockthatatfirstglanceseemedsolid.ButonlookingcloserGuphdiscoveredthattheserockheapsweredwellings,foreachhadanopening.
Notapersonwastobeseenoutsidetherockhuts.Allwassilent.
Theowl-manledthewayamongthegroupsofdwellingstoonestandinginthecenter.
Itseemednobetterandnoworsethananyoftheothers.
Outsidetheentrancetothisrockheaptheguidegavealowwailthatsoundedlike“Lee-ow-ah!”
Suddenlythereboundedfromtheopeninganotherhairyman.Thisoneworetheheadofabear.Inhishandheboreabrasshoop.Heglaredatthestrangerinevidentsurprise.
“Whyhaveyoucapturedthisfoolishwandererandbroughthimhere?”hedemanded,addressingtheowl-man.
“Ididnotcapturehim,”wastheanswer.“Hepassedthescarletalligatorandcamehereofhisownfreewillandaccord.”
TheFirstandForemostlookedattheGeneral.
“Haveyoutiredoflife,then?”heasked.
“Noindeed,”answeredGuph.“IamaNome,andtheChiefGeneralofKingRoquattheRed’sgreatarmyofNomes.
Icomeofalong-livedrace,andImaysaythatIexpecttolivealongtimeyet.
Sitdown,youPhanfasms—ifyoucanfindaseatinthiswildhaunt—andlistentowhatIhavetosay.”
WithallhisknowledgeandbraveryGeneralGuphdidnotknowthatthesteadyglarefromthebeareyeswasreadinghisinmostthoughtsassurelyasiftheyhadbeenputintowords.
HedidnotknowthatthesedespisedrockheapsofthePhanfasmsweremerelydeceptionstohisowneyes,norcouldheguessthathewasstandinginthemidstofoneofthemostsplendidandluxuriouscitieseverbuiltbymagicpower.
Allthathesawwasabarrenwasteofrockheaps,ahairymanwithanowl’sheadandanotherwithabear’shead.
ThesorceryofthePhanfasmspermittedhimtoseenomore.
SuddenlytheFirstandForemostswunghisbrasshoopandcaughtGupharoundtheneckwithit.
Thenextinstant,beforetheGeneralcouldthinkwhathadhappenedtohim,hewasdraggedinsidetherockhut.
Here,hiseyesstillblindedtorealities,heperceivedonlyadimlight,bywhichthehutseemedasroughandrudeinsideasitwasoutside.
Yethehadastrangefeelingthatmanybrighteyeswerefasteneduponhimandthathestoodinavastandextensivehall.
TheFirstandForemostnowlaughedgrimlyandreleasedhisprisoner.
“Ifyouhaveanythingtosaythatisinteresting,”heremarked,“speakout,beforeIstrangleyou.”
SoGuphspokeout.Hetriednottopayanyattentiontoastrangerustlingsoundthatheheard,asofanunseenmultitudedrawingneartolistentohiswords.
Hiseyescouldseeonlythefiercebear-man,andtohimheaddressedhisspeech.
FirsthetoldofhisplantoconquertheLandofOzandplunderthecountryofitsrichesandenslaveitspeople,who,beingfairies,couldnotbekilled.
Afterrelatingallthis,andtellingofthetunneltheNomeKingwasbuilding,hesaidhehadcometoasktheFirstandForemosttojointheNomes,withhisbandofterriblewarriors,andhelpthemtodefeattheOzpeople.
TheGeneralspokeveryearnestlyandimpressively,butwhenhehadfinishedthebear-manbegantolaughasifmuchamused,andhislaughterseemedtobeechoedbyachorusofmerrimentfromanunseenmultitude.
Then,forthefirsttime,Guphbegantofeelatrifleworried.
“Whoelsehaspromisedtohelpyou?”finallyaskedtheFirstandForemost.
“TheWhimsies,”repliedtheGeneral.
Againthebear-headedPhanfasmlaughed.
“Anyothers?”heinquired.
“OnlytheGrowleywogs,”saidGuph.
ThisanswersettheFirstandForemostlaughinganew.
“WhatshareofthespoilsamItohave?”wasthenextquestion.
“Anythingyoulike,exceptKingRoquat’sMagicBelt,”repliedGuph.
AtthisthePhanfasmsetuparoaroflaughter,whichhaditsechointheunseenchorus,andthebear-manseemedsoamusedthatheactuallyrolleduponthegroundandshoutedwithmerriment.
“Oh,theseblindandfoolishNomes!”hesaid.“Howbigtheyseemtothemselvesandhowsmalltheyreallyare!”
SuddenlyhearoseandseizedGuph’sneckwithonehairypaw,dragginghimoutofthehutintotheopen.
Herehegaveacuriouswailingcry,and,asifinanswer,fromalltherockyhutsonthemountain-topcameflockingahordeofPhanfasms,allwithhairybodies,butwearingheadsofvariousanimals,birdsandreptiles.
Allwereferociousandrepulsive-lookingtothedeceivedeyesoftheNome,andGuphcouldnotrepressashudderofdisgustashelookeduponthem.
TheFirstandForemostslowlyraisedhisarms,andinatwinklinghishairyskinfellfromhimandheappearedbeforetheastonishedNomeasabeautifulwoman,clothedinaflowinggownofpinkgauze.
Inherdarkhairflowerswereentwined,andherfacewasnobleandcalm.
AtthesameinstanttheentirebandofPhanfasmswastransformedintoapackofhowlingwolves,runninghereandthereastheysnarledandshowedtheiruglyyellowfangs.
Thewomannowraisedherarms,evenastheman-bearhaddone,andinatwinklingthewolvesbecamecrawlinglizards,whilesheherselfchangedintoahugebutterfly.
Guphhadonlytimetocryoutinfearandtakeastepbackwardtoavoidthelizardswhenanothertransformationoccurred,andallreturnedinstantlytotheformstheyhadoriginallyworn.
ThentheFirstandForemost,whohadresumedhishairybodyandbearhead,turnedtotheNomeandasked
“Doyoustilldemandourassistance?”
“Morethanever,”answeredtheGeneral,firmly.
“Thentellme:whatcanyouofferthePhanfasmsthattheyhavenotalready?”inquiredtheFirstandForemost.
Guphhesitated.Hereallydidnotknowwhattosay.
TheNomeKing’svauntedMagicBeltseemedapoorthingcomparedtotheastonishingmagicalpowersofthesepeople.
Gold,jewelsandslavestheymightsecureinanyquantitywithoutespecialeffort.
Hefeltthathewasdealingwithpowersgreatlybeyondhim.
TherewasbutoneargumentthatmightinfluencethePhanfasms,whowerecreaturesofevil.
“Permitmetocallyourattentiontotheexquisitejoyofmakingthehappyunhappy,”saidheatlast.“Considerthepleasureofdestroyinginnocentandharmlesspeople.”
“Ah!youhaveansweredme,”criedtheFirstandForemost.“Forthatreasonalonewewillaidyou.
Gohome,andtellyourbandy-leggedkingthatassoonashistunnelisfinishedthePhanfasmswillbewithhimandleadhislegionstotheconquestofOz.
ThedeadlydesertalonehaskeptusfromdestroyingOzlongago,andyourundergroundtunnelisacleverthought.Gohome,andprepareforourcoming!”
Guphwasverygladtobepermittedtogowiththispromise.
Theowl-manledhimbackdownthemountainpathandorderedthescarletalligatortocrawlawayandallowtheNometocrossthebridgeinsafety.
Afterthevisitorhadgoneabrilliantandgorgeouscityappeareduponthemountaintop,clearlyvisibletotheeyesofthegailydressedmultitudeofPhanfasmsthatlivedthere.
AndtheFirstandForemost,beautifullyarrayed,addressedtheothersinthesewords:
“Itistimewewentintotheworldandbroughtsorrowanddismaytoitspeople.
Toolonghaveweremainedforourselvesuponthismountaintop,forwhilewearethussecludedmanynationshavegrownhappyandprosperous,andthechiefjoyoftheraceofPhanfasmsistodestroyhappiness.
SoIthinkitisluckythatthismessengerfromtheNomesarrivedamongusjustnow,toremindusthattheopportunityhascomeforustomaketrouble.
WewilluseKingRoquat’stunneltoconquertheLandofOz.
ThenwewilldestroytheWhimsies,theGrowleywogsandtheNomes,andafterwardgoouttoravageandannoyandgrievethewholeworld.”
ThemultitudeofevilPhanfasmseagerlyapplaudedthisplan,whichtheyfullyapproved.
IamtoldthattheErbsarethemostpowerfulandmercilessofalltheevilspirits,andthePhanfasmsofPhantasticobelongtotheraceofErbs.
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