English
ThreedayslatertheGrandArmyofOogabooassembledinthesquareinfrontoftheroyalpalace.
Thesixteenofficerswereattiredingorgeousuniformsandcarriedsharp,glitteringswords.
ThePrivatehadpickedhisgunand,althoughitwasnotaverybigweapon,Filestriedtolookfierceandsucceededsowellthatallhiscommandingofficersweresecretlyafraidofhim.
Thewomenwerethere,protestingthatQueenAnnSoforthhadnorighttotaketheirhusbandsandfathersfromthem;butAnncommandedthemtokeepsilent,andthatwasthehardestordertoobeytheyhadeverreceived.
TheQueenappearedbeforeherArmydressedinanimposinguniformofgreen,coveredwithgoldbraid.
Sheworeagreensoldier-capwithapurpleplumeinitandlookedsoroyalanddignifiedthateveryoneinOogabooexcepttheArmywasgladshewasgoing.
TheArmywassorryshewasnotgoingalone.
“Formranks!”shecriedinhershrillvoice.
Salyeleanedoutofthepalacewindowandlaughed.
“IbelieveyourArmycanrunbetterthanitcanfight,”sheobserved.
“Ofcourse,”repliedGeneralBunn,proudly.“We’renotlookingfortrouble,youknow,butforplunder.Themoreplunderandthelessfightingweget,thebetterweshalllikeourwork.”
“Formypart,”saidFiles,“Ipreferwarandcarnagetoanything.Theonlywaytobecomeaheroistoconquer,andthestory-booksallsaythattheeasiestwaytoconqueristofight.”
“That’stheidea,mybraveman!”agreedAnn.
“Tofightistoconquerandtoconqueristosecureplunderandtosecureplunderistobecomeahero.
Withsuchnobledeterminationtobackme,theworldismine!Good-bye,Salye.
Whenwereturnweshallberichandfamous.Come,Generals;letusmarch.”
AtthistheGeneralsstraightenedupandthrewouttheirchests.ThentheyswungtheirglitteringswordsinrapidcirclesandcriedtotheColonels:
“For-wardMarch!”
ThentheColonelsshoutedtotheMajors:“For-wardMarch!”andtheMajorsyelledtotheCaptains:“For-wardMarch!”andtheCaptainsscreamedtothePrivate:
“For-wardMarch!”
SoFilesshoulderedhisgunandbegantomarch,andalltheofficersfollowedafterhim.
QueenAnncamelastofall,rejoicinginhernoblearmyandwonderingwhyshehadnotdecidedlongagotoconquertheworld.
InthisordertheprocessionmarchedoutofOogabooandtookthenarrowmountainpass,whichledintothelovelyFairylandofOz.
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