English
TheRainKinggottoomuchwaterinhisbasinandspilledsomeoverthebrim.
Thatmadeitraininacertainpartofthecountry—arealhardshower,foratime—andsenttheRainbowscamperingtotheplacetoshowthegorgeouscolorsofhisgloriousbowassoonasthemistofrainhadpassedandtheskywasclear.
ThecomingoftheRainbowisalwaysajoyouseventtoearthfolk,yetfewhaveeverseenitcloseby.
UsuallytheRainbowissofardistantthatyoucanobserveitssplendidhuesbutdimly,andthatiswhyweseldomcatchsightofthedancingDaughtersoftheRainbow.
Inthebarrencountrywheretherainhadjustfallenthereappearedtobenohumanbeingsatall;buttheRainbowappeared,justthesame,anddancinghappilyuponitsarchweretheRainbow’sDaughters,ledbythefairylikePolychrome,whoissodaintyandbeautifulthatnogirlhaseverquiteequaledherinloveliness.
Polychromewasinamerrymoodanddanceddownthearchofthebowtotheground,daringhersisterstofollowher.
Laughingandgleeful,theyalsotouchedthegroundwiththeirtwinklingfeet;butalltheDaughtersoftheRainbowknewthatthiswasadangerouspastime,sotheyquicklyclimbedupontheirbowagain.
AllbutPolychrome.Thoughthesweetestandmerriestofthemall,shewaslikewisethemostreckless.
Moreover,itwasanunusualsensationtopatthecold,dampearthwithherrosytoes.
Beforesherealizeditthebowhadliftedanddisappearedinthebillowybluesky,andherewasPolychromestandinghelplessuponarock,hergauzydraperiesfloatingaboutherlikebrilliantcobwebsandnotasoul—fairyormortal—tohelpherregainherlostbow!
“Dearme!”sheexclaimed,afrownpassingacrossherprettyface,“I’mcaughtagain.
ThisisthesecondtimemycarelessnesshasleftmeonearthwhilemysistersreturnedtoourSkyPalaces.
ThefirsttimeIenjoyedsomepleasantadventures,butthisisalonely,forsakencountryandIshallbeveryunhappyuntilmyRainbowcomesagainandIcanclimbaboard.Letmethinkwhatisbesttobedone.”
Shecrouchedlowupontheflatrock,drewherdraperiesaboutherandbowedherhead.
ItwasinthispositionthatBetsyBobbinspiedPolychromeasshecamealongthestonypath,followedbyHank,thePrincessandShaggy.
AtoncethegirlranuptotheradiantDaughteroftheRainbowandexclaimed:
“Oh,whatalovely,lovelycreature!”
Polychromeraisedhergoldenhead.Thereweretearsinherblueeyes.
“I’mthemostmiserablegirlinthewholeworld!”shesobbed.
Theothersgatheredaroundher.
“Tellusyourtroubles,prettyone,”urgedthePrincess.
“I—I’velostmybow!”wailedPolychrome.
“Takeme,mydear,”saidShaggyManinasympathetictone,thinkingshemeant“beau”insteadof“bow.”
“Idon’twantyou!”criedPolychrome,stampingherfootimperiously;“IwantmyRainbow.”
“Oh;that’sdifferent,”saidShaggy.“Buttrytoforgetit.
WhenIwasyoungIusedtocryfortheRainbowmyself,butIcouldn’thaveit.
Looksasifyoucouldn’thaveit,either;sopleasedon’tcry.”
Polychromelookedathimreproachfully.
“Idon’tlikeyou,”shesaid.
“No?”repliedShaggy,drawingtheLoveMagnetfromhispocket;“notalittlebit?—justaweespeckofalike?”
“Yes,yes!”saidPolychrome,claspingherhandsinecstasyasshegazedattheenchantedtalisman;“Iloveyou,ShaggyMan!”
“Ofcourseyoudo,”saidhecalmly;“butIdon’ttakeanycreditforit.It’stheLoveMagnet’spowerfulcharm.
Butyouseemquitealoneandfriendless,littleRainbow.
Don’tyouwanttojoinourpartyuntilyoufindyourfatherandsistersagain?”
“Whereareyougoing?”sheasked.
“Wedon’tjustknowthat,”saidBetsy,takingherhand;“butwe’retryingtofindShaggy’slong-lostbrother,whohasbeencapturedbytheterribleMetalMonarch.Won’tyoucomewithus,andhelpus?”
Polychromelookedfromonetoanotherofthestrangepartyoftravelersandabewitchingsmilesuddenlylightedherface.
“Adonkey,amortalmaid,aRosePrincessandaShaggyMan!”sheexclaimed.“Surelyyouneedhelp,ifyouintendtofaceRuggedo.”
“Doyouknowhim,then?”inquiredBetsy.
“No,indeed.Ruggedo’scavernsarebeneaththeearth’ssurface,wherenoRainbowcaneverpenetrate.ButI’veheardoftheMetalMonarch.
HeisalsocalledtheNomeKing,youknow,andhehasmadetroubleforagoodmanypeople—mortalsandfairies—inhistime,”saidPolychrome.
“Doyoufearhim,then?”askedthePrincess,anxiously.
“NoonecanharmaDaughteroftheRainbow,”saidPolychromeproudly.“I’maskyfairy.”
“Then,”saidBetsy,quickly,“youwillbeabletotellusthewaytoRuggedo’scavern.”
“No,”returnedPolychrome,shakingherhead,“thatisonethingIcannotdo.ButIwillgladlygowithyouandhelpyousearchfortheplace.”
ThispromisedelightedallthewanderersandaftertheShaggyManhadfoundthepathagaintheybeganmovingalongitinamorehappymood.
TheRainbow’sDaughterdancedlightlyovertherockytrail,nolongersad,butwithherbeautifulfeatureswreathedinsmiles.
Shaggycamenext,walkingsteadilyandnowandthensupportingtheRosePrincess,whofollowedhim.
BetsyandHankbroughtuptherear,andifshetiredwithwalkingthegirlgotuponHank’sbackandletthestoutlittledonkeycarryherforawhile.
Atnightfalltheycametosometreesthatgrewbesideatinybrookandheretheymadecampandresteduntilmorning.
Thenawaytheytramped,findingberriesandfruitshereandtherewhichsatisfiedthehungerofBetsy,ShaggyandHank,sothattheywerewellcontentwiththeirlot.
ItsurprisedBetsytoseetheRosePrincesspartakeoftheirfood,forsheconsideredherafairy;butwhenshementionedthistoPolychrome,theRainbow’sDaughterexplainedthatwhenOzgawasdrivenoutofherRoseKingdomsheceasedtobeafairyandwouldneveragainbemorethanameremortal.
Polychrome,however,wasafairywherevershehappenedtobe,andifshesippedafewdewdropsbymoonlightforrefreshmentnooneeversawherdoit.
Astheycontinuedtheirwanderingjourney,directionmeantverylittletothem,fortheywerehopelesslylostinthisstrangecountry.
Shaggysaiditwouldbebesttogotowardthemountains,asthenaturalentrancetoRuggedo’sundergroundcavernwaslikelytobehiddeninsomerocky,desertedplace;butmountainsseemedallaroundthemexceptintheonedirectionthattheyhadcomefrom,whichledtotheRoseKingdomandthesea.
Thereforeitmatteredlittlewhichwaytheytraveled.
Byandbytheyespiedafainttrailthatlookedlikeapathandafterfollowingthisforsometimetheyreachedacrossroads.
Hereweremanypaths,leadinginvariousdirections,andtherewasasignpostsooldthattherewerenownowordsuponthesign.
Atonesidewasanoldwell,withachainwindlassfordrawingwater,yettherewasnohouseorotherbuildinganywhereinsight.
Whilethepartyhalted,puzzledwhichwaytoproceed,themuleapproachedthewellandtriedtolookintoit.
“He’sthirsty,”saidBetsy.
“It’sadrywell,”remarkedShaggy.“Probablytherehasbeennowaterinitformanyyears.But,come;letusdecidewhichwaytotravel.”
Nooneseemedabletodecidethat.Theysatdowninagroupandtriedtoconsiderwhichroadmightbethebesttotake.
Hank,however,couldnotkeepawayfromthewellandfinallyhereareduponhishindlegs,gothisheadovertheedgeandutteredaloud“Hee-haw!”
Betsywatchedheranimalfriendcuriously.
“Iwonderifheseesanythingdownthere?”shesaid.
Atthis,Shaggyroseandwentovertothewelltoinvestigate,andBetsywentwithhim.
ThePrincessandPolychrome,whohadbecomefastfriends,linkedarmsandsauntereddownoneoftheroads,tofindaneasypath.
“Really,”saidShaggy,“theredoesseemtobesomethingatthebottomofthisoldwell.”
“Can’twepullitup,andseewhatitis?”askedthegirl.
Therewasnobucketattheendofthewindlasschain,buttherewasabighookthatatonetimewasusedtoholdabucket.
Shaggyletdownthishook,draggeditaroundonthebottomandthenpulleditup.
Anoldhoopskirtcamewithit,andBetsylaughedandthrewitaway.
ThethingfrightenedHank,whohadneverseenahoopskirtbefore,andhekeptagooddistanceawayfromit.
SeveralotherobjectstheShaggyMancapturedwiththehookanddrewup,butnoneofthesewasimportant.
“Thiswellseemstohavebeenthedumpforalltheoldrubbishinthecountry,”hesaid,lettingdownthehookoncemore.“IguessI’vecapturedeverythingnow.No—thehookhascaughtagain.Helpme,Betsy!Whateverthisthingis,it’sheavy.”
Sheranupandhelpedhimturnthewindlassandaftermucheffortaconfusedmassofcoppercameinsight.
“Goodgracious!”exclaimedShaggy.“Hereisasurprise,indeed!”
“Whatisit?”inquiredBetsy,clingingtothewindlassandpantingforbreath.
ForanswertheShaggyMangraspedthebundleofcopperanddumpeditupontheground,freeofthewell.
Thenheturneditoverwithhisfoot,spreaditout,andtoBetsy’sastonishmentthethingprovedtobeacopperman.
“JustasIthought,”saidShaggy,lookinghardattheobject.“ButunlesstherearetwocoppermenintheworldthisisthemostastonishingthingIevercameacross.”
AtthismomenttheRainbow’sDaughterandtheRosePrincessapproachedthem,andPolychromesaid:
“Whathaveyoufound,ShaggyOne?”
“Eitheranoldfriend,orastranger,”hereplied.
“Oh,here’sasignonhisback!”criedBetsy,whohadkneltdowntoexaminetheman.“Dearme;howfunny!Listentothis.”
Thenshereadthefollowingwords,engraveduponthecopperplatesoftheman’sbody:
SMITH&TINKER’S
PatentDouble-Action,Extra-Responsive,
Thought-Creating,Perfect-Talking
MECHANICALMAN
FittedwithourSpecialClockworkAttachment.Thinks,Speaks,Acts,and
DoesEverythingbutLive.
“Isn’thewonderful!”exclaimedthePrincess.
“Yes;buthere’smore,”saidBetsy,readingfromanotherengravedplate:
DIRECTIONSFORUSING:
ForTHINKING:—WindtheClockwork
Manunderhisleftarm,(markedNo.1).For
SPEAKING:—WindtheClockwork
Manunderhisrightarm,(markedNo.2).ForWALKINGand
ACTION:—WindClockworkMan
inthemiddleofhisback,(markedNo.3).
N.B.—ThisMechanismisguaranteedto
workperfectlyforathousandyears.
“Ifhe’sguaranteedforathousandyears,”saidPolychrome,“heoughttoworkyet.”
“Ofcourse,”repliedShaggy.“Let’swindhimup.”
Inordertodothistheywereobligedtosetthecoppermanuponhisfeet,inanuprightposition,andthiswasnoeasytask.
Hewasinclinedtotoppleover,andhadtobeproppedagainandagain.
ThegirlsassistedShaggy,andatlastTik-Tokseemedtobebalancedandstoodaloneuponhisbroadfeet.
“Yes,”saidShaggy,lookingatthecoppermancarefully,“thismustbe,indeed,myoldfriendTik-Tok,whomIlefttickingmerrilyintheLandofOz.
Buthowhecametothislonelyplace,andgotintothatoldwell,issurelyamystery.”
“Ifwewindhim,perhapshewilltellus,”suggestedBetsy.“Here’sthekey,hangingtoahookonhisback.WhatpartofhimshallIwindupfirst?”
“Histhoughts,ofcourse,”saidPolychrome,“foritrequiresthoughttospeakormoveintelligently.”
SoBetsywoundhimunderhisleftarm,andatoncelittleflashesoflightbegantoshowinthetopofhishead,whichwasproofthathehadbeguntothink.
“Now,then,”saidShaggy,“winduphisphonograph.”
“What’sthat?”sheasked.
“Why,histalking-machine.Histhoughtsmaybeinteresting,buttheydon’ttellusanything.”
SoBetsywoundthecoppermanunderhisrightarm,andthenfromtheinteriorofhiscopperbodycameinjerkytonesthewords:“Ma-nythanks!”
“Hurrah!”criedShaggy,joyfully,andheslappedTik-Tokuponthebackinsuchaheartymannerthatthecoppermanlosthisbalanceandtumbledtothegroundinaheap.
Buttheclockworkthatenabledhimtospeakhadbeenwoundupandhekeptsaying:“Pick-me-up!Pick-me-up!Pick-me-up!”
untiltheyhadagainraisedhimandbalancedhimuponhisfeet,whenheaddedpolitely:“Ma-nythanks!”
“Hewon’tbeself-supportinguntilwewinduphisaction,”remarkedShaggy;soBetsywoundit,astightasshecould—forthekeyturnedratherhard—andthenTik-Tokliftedhisfeet,marchedaroundinacircleandendedbystoppingbeforethegroupandmakingthemallalowbow.
“Howintheworlddidyouhappentobeinthatwell,whenIleftyousafeinOz?”inquiredShaggy.
“Itisalongsto-ry,”repliedTik-Tok,“butI’lltellitinafewwords.
Af-teryouhadgoneinsearchofyourbroth-er,Oz-masawyouwan-der-inginstrangelandswhen-ev-ershelookedinhermag-icpic-ture,andshealsosawyourbroth-erintheNomeKing’scavern;soshesentmetotellyouwheretofindyourbroth-erandtoldmetohelpyouifIcould.
TheSor-cer-ess,Glin-datheGood,trans-port-edmetothisplaceinthewinkofaneye;buthereImettheNomeKinghim-self—oldRug-ge-do,whoiscalledinthesepartstheMet-alMon-arch.
Rug-ge-doknewwhatIhadcomefor,andhewassoan-grythathethrewmedownthewell.
Af-termyworksrandownIwashelp-lessun-tilyoucamea-longandpulledmeouta-gain.Ma-nythanks.”
“Thisis,indeed,goodnews,”saidShaggy.“IsuspectedthatmybrotherwastheprisonerofRuggedo;butnowIknowit.Tellus,Tik-Tok,howshallwegettotheNomeKing’sundergroundcavern?”
“Thebestwayistowalk,”saidTik-Tok.“Wemightcrawl,orjump,orrollo-verando-veruntilwegetthere;butthebestwayistowalk.”
“Iknow;butwhichroadshallwetake?”
“Myma-chin-er-yis-n’tmadetotellthat,”repliedTik-Tok.
“Thereismorethanoneentrancetotheundergroundcavern,”saidPolychrome;“butoldRuggedohascleverlyconcealedeveryopening,sothatearthdwellerscannotintrudeinhisdomain.
Ifwefindourwayundergroundatall,itwillbebychance.”
“Then,”saidBetsy,“letusselectanyroad,haphazard,andseewhereitleadsus.”
“Thatseemssensible,”declaredthePrincess.“ItmayrequirealotoftimeforustofindRuggedo,butwehavemoretimethananythingelse.”
“Ifyoukeepmewoundup,”saidTik-Tok,“Iwilllastathou-sandyears.”
“Thentheonlyquestiontodecideiswhichwaytogo,”addedShaggy,lookingfirstatoneroadandthenatanother.
Butwhiletheystoodhesitating,apeculiarsoundreachedtheirears—asoundlikethetrampingofmanyfeet.
“What’scoming?”criedBetsy;andthensherantotheleft-handroadandglancedalongthepath.“Why,it’sanarmy!”sheexclaimed.“Whatshallwedo,hideorrun?”
“Standstill,”commandedShaggy.“I’mnotafraidofanarmy.Iftheyprovetobefriendly,theycanhelpus;iftheyareenemies,I’llshowthemtheLoveMagnet.”
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