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Thissuddenarrivalwasastrangelookingman,dressedallingarmentssoshaggythatBetsyatfirstthoughthemustbesomeanimal.
Butthestrangerendedhisfallinasittingpositionandthenthegirlsawitwasreallyaman.
Heheldanappleinhishand,whichhehadevidentlybeeneatingwhenhefell,andsolittlewashejarredorflusteredbytheaccidentthathecontinuedtomunchthisappleashecalmlylookedaroundhim.
“Goodgracious!”exclaimedBetsy,approachinghim.“Whoareyou,andwheredidyoucomefrom?”
“Me?Oh,I’mShaggyMan,”saidhe,takinganotherbiteoftheapple.“Justdroppedinforashortcall.Excusemyseeminghaste.”
“Why,Is’poseyoucouldn’thelpthehaste,”saidBetsy.
“No.Iclimbedanappletree,outside;branchgavewayand—hereIam.”
AshespoketheShaggyManfinishedhisapple,gavethecoretoHank—whoateitgreedily—andthenstooduptobowpolitelytoBetsyandtheRoses.
TheRoyalGardenerhadbeenfrightenednearlyintofitsbythecrashofglassandthefalloftheshaggystrangerintothebowerofRoses,butnowhepeepedoutfrombehindabushandcriedinhissqueakyvoice:
“You’rebreakingtheLaw!You’rebreakingtheLaw!”
Shaggystaredathimsolemnly.
“IstheglasstheLawinthiscountry?”heasked.
“BreakingtheglassisbreakingtheLaw,”squeakedtheGardener,angrily.“Also,tointrudeinanypartoftheRoseKingdomisbreakingtheLaw.”
“Howdoyouknow?”askedShaggy.
“Why,it’sprintedinabook,”saidtheGardener,comingforwardandtakingasmallbookfromhispocket.“Pagethirteen.
Hereitis:‘IfanystrangerenterstheRoseKingdomheshallatoncebecondemnedbytheRulerandputtodeath.’
Soyousee,strangers,”hecontinuedtriumphantly,“it’sdeathforyouallandyourtimehascome!”
ButjusthereHankinterposed.HehadbeenstealthilybackingtowardtheRoyalGardener,whomhedisliked,andnowthemule’sheelsshotoutandstruckthelittlemaninthemiddle.
Hedoubledupliketheletter“U”andflewoutofthedoorsoswiftly—nevertouchingtheground—thathewasgonebeforeBetsyhadtimetowink.
Butthemule’sattackfrightenedthegirl.
“Come,”shewhispered,approachingtheShaggyManandtakinghishand;“let’sgosomewhereelse.They’llsurelykillusifwestayhere!”
“Don’tworry,mydear,”repliedShaggy,pattingthechild’shead.“I’mnotafraidofanything,solongasIhavetheLoveMagnet.”
“TheLoveMagnet!Why,whatisthat?”askedBetsy.
“It’sacharminglittleenchantmentthatwinstheheartofeveryonewholooksuponit,”wasthereply.
“TheLoveMagnetusedtohangoverthegatewaytotheEmeraldCity,intheLandofOz;butwhenIstartedonthisjourneyourbelovedRuler,OzmaofOz,allowedmetotakeitwithme.”
“Oh!”criedBetsy,staringhardathim;“areyoureallyfromthewonderfulLandofOz?”
“Yes.Everbeenthere,mydear?”
“No;butI’veheardaboutit.AnddoyouknowPrincessOzma?”
“Verywellindeed.”
“And—andPrincessDorothy?”
“Dorothy’sanoldchumofmine,”declaredShaggy.
“Dearme!”exclaimedBetsy.“AndwhydidyoueverleavesuchabeautifullandasOz?”
“Onanerrand,”saidShaggy,lookingsadandsolemn.“I’mtryingtofindmydearlittlebrother.”
“Oh!Ishelost?”questionedBetsy,feelingverysorryforthepoorman.
“Beenlostthesetenyears,”repliedShaggy,takingoutahandkerchiefandwipingatearfromhiseye.
“Ididn’tknowituntillately,whenIsawitrecordedinthemagicRecordBookoftheSorceressGlinda,intheLandofOz.SonowI’mtryingtofindhim.”
“Wherewashelost?”askedthegirlsympathetically.
“BackinColorado,whereIusedtolivebeforeIwenttoOz.
Brotherwasaminer,andduggoldoutofamine.
Onedayhewentintohismineandnevercameout.
Theysearchedforhim,buthewasnotthere.
Disappearedentirely,”Shaggyendedmiserably.
“Forgoodnesssake!Whatdoyous’posebecameofhim?”sheasked.
“Thereisonlyoneexplanation,”replied
Shaggy,takinganotherapplefromhispocketandeatingittorelievehismisery.“TheNomeKingprobablygothim.”
“TheNomeKing!Whoishe?”
“Why,he’ssometimescalledtheMetalMonarch,andhisnameisRuggedo.Livesinsomeundergroundcavern.Claimstoownallthemetalshiddenintheearth.Don’taskmewhy.”
“Why?”
“CauseIdon’tknow.ButthisRuggedogetswildwithangerifanyonedigsgoldoutoftheearth,andmyprivateopinionisthathecapturedbrotherandcarriedhimofftohisundergroundkingdom.No—don’taskmewhy.Iseeyou’redyingtoaskmewhy.ButIdon’tknow.”
“But—dearme!—inthatcaseyouwillneverfindyourlostbrother!”exclaimedthegirl.
“Maybenot;butit’smydutytotry,”answeredShaggy.
“I’vewanderedsofarwithoutfindinghim,butthatonlyprovesheisnotwhereI’vebeenlooking.
WhatIseeknowisthehiddenpassagetotheundergroundcavernoftheterribleMetalMonarch.”
“Well,”saidBetsydoubtfully,“itstrikesmethatifyouevermanagetogettheretheMetalMonarchwillmakeyou,too,hisprisoner.”
“Nonsense!”answeredShaggy,carelessly.
“Youmustn’tforgettheLoveMagnet.”
“Whataboutit?”sheasked.
“WhenthefierceMetalMonarchseestheLoveMagnet,hewilllovemedearlyanddoanythingIask.”
“Itmustbewonderful,”saidBetsy,withawe.
“Itis,”themanassuredher.“ShallIshowittoyou?”
“Oh,do!”shecried;soShaggysearchedinhisshaggypocketanddrewoutasmallsilvermagnet,shapedlikeahorseshoe.
ThemomentBetsysawitshebegantoliketheShaggyManbetterthanbefore.HankalsosawtheMagnetandcreptuptoShaggytorubhisheadlovinglyagainsttheman’sknee.
ButtheywereinterruptedbytheRoyalGardener,whostuckhisheadintothegreenhouseandshoutedangrily:
“Youareallcondemnedtodeath!Youronlychancetoescapeistoleavehereinstantly.”
ThisstartledlittleBetsy,buttheShaggyManmerelywavedtheMagnettowardtheGardener,who,seeingit,rushedforwardandthrewhimselfatShaggy’sfeet,murmuringinhoneyedwords:
“Oh,youlovely,lovelyman!HowfondIamofyou!Everyshagandbobtailthatdecoratesyouisdeartome—allIhaveisyours!Butforgoodness’sakegetoutofherebeforeyoudiethedeath.”
“I’mnotgoingtodie,”declaredShaggyMan.
“Youmust.It’stheLaw,”exclaimedtheGardener,beginningtoweeprealtears.
“Itbreaksmyhearttotellyouthisbadnews,buttheLawsaysthatallstrangersmustbecondemnedbytheRulertodiethedeath.”
“NoRulerhascondemnedusyet,”saidBetsy.
“Ofcoursenot,”addedShaggy.“Wehaven’tevenseentheRuleroftheRoseKingdom.”
“Well,totellthetruth,”saidtheGardener,inaperplexedtoneofvoice,“wehaven’tanyrealRuler,justnow.
Yousee,allourRulersgrowonbushesintheRoyalGardens,andthelastonewehadgotmildewedandwitheredbeforehistime.
Sowehadtoplanthim,andatthistimethereisnoonegrowingontheRoyalBusheswhoisripeenoughtopick.”
“Howdoyouknow?”askedBetsy.
“Why,I’mtheRoyalGardener.Plentyofroyaltiesaregrowing,Iadmit;butjustnowtheyareallgreen.
Untiloneripens,IamsupposedtoruletheRoseKingdommyself,andseethatitsLawsareobeyed.
Therefore,muchasIloveyou,Shaggy,Imustputyoutodeath.”
“Waitaminute,”pleadedBetsy.“I’dliketoseethoseRoyalGardensbeforeIdie.”
“SowouldI,”addedShaggyMan.“Takeusthere,Gardener.”
“Oh,Ican’tdothat,”objectedtheGardener.ButShaggyagainshowedhimtheLoveMagnetandafteroneglanceatittheGardenercouldnolongerresist.
HeledShaggy,BetsyandHanktotheendofthegreatgreenhouseandcarefullyunlockedasmalldoor.PassingthroughthistheycameintothesplendidRoyalGardenoftheRoseKingdom.
Itwasallsurroundedbyatallhedgeandwithintheenclosuregrewseveralenormousrosebusheshavingthickgreenleavesofthetextureofvelvet.
UponthesebushesgrewthemembersoftheRoyalFamilyoftheRoseKingdom—men,womenandchildreninallstagesofmaturity.
Theyallseemedtohavealightgreenhue,asifunripeornotfullydeveloped,theirfleshandclothingbeingalikegreen.
Theystoodperfectlylifelessupontheirbranches,whichswayedsoftlyinthebreeze,andtheirwideopeneyesstaredstraightahead,unseeingandunintelligent.
Whileexaminingthesecuriousgrowingpeople,Betsypassedbehindabigcentralbushandatonceutteredanexclamationofsurpriseandpleasure.
Forthere,bloominginperfectcolorandshape,stoodaRoyalPrincess,whosebeautywasamazing.
“Why,she’sripe!”criedBetsy,pushingasidesomeofthebroadleavestoobservehermoreclearly.
“Well,perhapsso,”admittedtheGardener,whohadcometothegirl’sside;“butshe’sagirl,andsowecan’tuseherforaRuler.”
“No,indeed!”cameachorusofsoftvoices,andlookingaroundBetsydiscoveredthatalltheRoseshadfollowedthemfromthegreenhouseandwerenowgroupedbeforetheentrance.
“Yousee,”explainedtheGardener,“thesubjectsofRoseKingdomdon’twantagirlRuler.TheywantaKing.”
“AKing!WewantaKing!”repeatedthechorusofRoses.
“Isn’tsheRoyal?”inquiredShaggy,admiringthelovelyPrincess.
“Ofcourse,forshegrowsonaRoyalBush.ThisPrincessisnamedOzga,assheisadistantcousinofOzmaofOz;and,wereshebutaman,wewouldjoyfullyhailherasourRuler.”
TheGardenerthenturnedawaytotalkwithhisRosesandBetsywhisperedtohercompanion:“Let’spickher,Shaggy.”
“Allright,”saidhe.“Ifshe’sroyal,shehastherighttorulethisKingdom,andifwepickhershewillsurelyprotectusandpreventourbeinghurt,ordrivenaway.”
SoBetsyandShaggyeachtookanarmofthebeautifulRosePrincessandalittletwistofherfeetsetherfreeofthebranchuponwhichshegrew.
Verygracefullyshesteppeddownfromthebushtotheground,whereshebowedlowtoBetsyandShaggyandsaidinadelightfullysweetvoice:“Ithankyou.”
ButatthesoundofthesewordstheGardenerandtheRosesturnedanddiscoveredthatthePrincesshadbeenpicked,andwasnowalive.
Overeveryfaceflashedanexpressionofresentmentandanger,andoneoftheRosescriedaloud.
“Audaciousmortals!Whathaveyoudone?”
“PickedaPrincessforyou,that’sall,”repliedBetsy,cheerfully.
“Butwewon’thaveher!WewantaKing!”exclaimedaJacqueRose,andanotheraddedwithavoiceofscorn:“Nogirlshallruleoverus!”
Thenewly-pickedPrincesslookedfromonetoanotherofherrebellioussubjectsinastonishment.Agrievedlookcameoverherexquisitefeatures.
“HaveInowelcomehere,prettysubjects?”sheaskedgently.“HaveInotcomefrommyRoyalBushtobeyourRuler?”
“Youwerepickedbymortals,withoutourconsent,”repliedtheMossRose,coldly;“sowerefusetoallowyoutoruleus.”
“Turnherout,Gardener,withtheothers!”criedtheTeaRose.
“Justasecond,please!”calledShaggy,takingtheLoveMagnetfromhispocket.“Iguessthiswillwintheirlove,Princess.Here—takeitinyourhandandlettherosesseeit.”
PrincessOzgatooktheMagnetandhelditpoisedbeforetheeyesofhersubjects;buttheRosesregardeditwithcalmdisdain.
“Why,what’sthematter?”demandedShaggyinsurprise.“TheMagnetneverfailedtoworkbefore!”
“Iknow,”saidBetsy,noddingherheadwisely.“TheseRoseshavenohearts.”
“That’sit,”agreedtheGardener.“They’repretty,andsweet,andalive;butstilltheyareRoses.Theirstemshavethorns,butnohearts.”
ThePrincesssighedandhandedtheMagnettotheShaggyMan.
“WhatshallIdo?”sheaskedsorrowfully.
“Turnherout,Gardener,withtheothers!”commandedtheRoses.“WewillhavenoRuleruntilaman-rose—aKing—isripeenoughtopick.”
“Verywell,”saidtheGardenermeekly.“Youmustexcuseme,mydearShaggy,foropposingyourwishes,butyouandtheothers,includingOzga,mustgetoutofRoseKingdomimmediately,ifnotbefore.”
“Don’tyouloveme,Gardy?”askedShaggy,carelesslydisplayingtheMagnet.
“Ido.Idoteonthee!”answeredtheGardenerearnestly;“butnotruemanwillneglecthisdutyforthesakeoflove.Mydutyistodriveyouout,so—outyougo!”
Withthisheseizedagardenforkandbeganjabbingitatthestrangers,inordertoforcethemtoleave.
HankthemulewasnotafraidoftheforkandwhenhegothisheelsneartotheGardenerthemanfellbacktoavoidakick.
ButnowtheRosescrowdedaroundtheoutcastsanditwassoondiscoveredthatbeneaththeirdraperiesofgreenleavesweremanysharpthorns,whichweremoredangerousthanHank’sheels.
NeitherBetsynorOzganorShaggynorthemulecaredtobravethosethornsandwhentheypressedawayfromthemtheyfoundthemselvesslowlydriventhroughthegardendoorintothegreenhouse.
Fromtheretheywereforcedoutattheentranceandsothroughtheterritoryoftheflower-strewnRoseKingdom,whichwasnotofverygreatextent.
TheRosePrincesswassobbingbitterly;Betsywasindignantandangry;Hankuttereddefiant“Hee-haws”andtheShaggyManwhistledsoftlytohimself.
TheboundaryoftheRoseKingdomwasadeepgulf,buttherewasadrawbridgeinoneplaceandthistheRoyalGardenerletdownuntiltheoutcastshadpassedoverit.
ThenhedrewitupagainandreturnedwithhisRosestothegreenhouse,leavingthefourstrangelyassortedcomradestowanderintothebleakandcountrythatlaybeyond.
“Idon’tmind,much,”remarkedShaggy,asheledthewayoverthestony,barrenground.“I’vegottosearchformylong-lostlittlebrother,anyhow,soitwon’tmatterwhereIgo.”
“HankandIwillhelpyoufindyourbrother,”saidBetsyinhermostcheerfulvoice.
“I’msofarawayfromhomenowthatIdon’ts’poseI’lleverfindmywayback;and,totellthetruth,it’smorefuntravelingaroundandhavingadventuresthanstickingathome.Don’tyouthinkso,Hank?”
“Hee-haw!”saidHank,andtheShaggyManthankedthemboth.
“Formypart,”saidPrincessOzgaofRoseland,withagentlesigh,“ImustremainforeverexiledfrommyKingdom.SoI,too,willbegladtohelptheShaggyManfindhislostbrother.”
“That’sverykindofyou,ma’am,”saidShaggy.“ButunlessIcanfindtheundergroundcavernofRuggedo,theMetalMonarch,Ishallneverfindpoorbrother.”
(ThisKingwasformerlynamed“Roquat,”butafterhedrankofthe“WatersofOblivion”heforgothisownnameandhadtotakeanother.)
“Doesn’tanyoneknowwhereitis?”inquiredBetsy.
“Someonemustknow,ofcourse,”wasShaggy’sreply.“Butwearenottheones.TheonlywaytosucceedisforustokeepgoinguntilwefindapersonwhocandirectustoRuggedo’scavern.”
“Wemayfinditourselves,withoutanyhelp,”suggestedBetsy.“Whoknows?”
“Nooneknowsthat,exceptthepersonwho’swritingthisstory,”saidShaggy.“Butwewon’tfindanything—notevensupper—unlesswetravelon.Here’sapath.Let’stakeitandseewhereitleadsto.”
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