English
WhileShaggyandhiscompanionsstoodhuddledinagroupatoneside,theArmyofOogaboowasapproachingalongthepathway,thetrampoftheirfeetbeingnowandthenaccompaniedbyadismalgroanasoneoftheofficerssteppedonasharpstoneorknockedhisfunnyboneagainsthisneighbor’ssword-handle.
ThenoutfromamongthetreesmarchedPrivateFiles,bearingthebannerofOogaboo,whichflutteredfromalongpole.
Thispolehestuckinthegroundjustinfrontofthewellandthenhecriedinaloudvoice:
“IherebyconquerthisterritoryinthenameofQueenAnnSoforthofOogaboo,andalltheinhabitantsofthelandIproclaimherslaves!”
Someoftheofficersnowstucktheirheadsoutofthebushesandasked:
“Isthecoastclear,PrivateFiles?”
“Thereisnocoasthere,”wasthereply,“butall’swell.”
“Ihopethere’swaterinit,”saidGeneralCone,musteringcouragetoadvancetothewell;butjustthenhecaughtaglimpseofTik-TokandShaggyandatoncefelluponhisknees,tremblingandfrightenedandcriedout:
“Mercy,kindenemies!Mercy!Spareus,andwewillbeyourslavesforever!”
Theotherofficers,whohadnowadvancedintotheclearing,likewisefellupontheirkneesandbeggedformercy.
Filesturnedaroundand,seeingthestrangersforthefirsttime,examinedthemwithmuchcuriosity.Then,discoveringthatthreeofthepartyweregirls,heliftedhiscapandmadeapolitebow.
“What’sallthis?”demandedaharshvoice,asQueenAnnreachedtheplaceandbeheldherkneelingarmy.
“Permitustointroduceourselves,”repliedShaggy,steppingforward.
“ThisisTik-Tok,theClockworkMan—whoworksbetterthansomemeatpeople.
AndhereisPrincessOzgaofRoseland,justnowunfortunatelyexiledfromherKingdomofRoses.
InextpresentPolychrome,askyfairy,wholostherBowbyanaccidentandcan’tfindherwayhome.
ThesmallgirlhereisBetsyBobbin,fromsomeearthlyparadisecalledOklahoma,andwithheryouseeMr.Hank,amulewithalongtailandashorttemper.”
“Puh!”saidAnn,scornfully;“aprettylotofvagabondsyouare,indeed;alllostorstrayed,Isuppose,andnotworthaQueen’splundering.I’msorryI’veconqueredyou.”
“Butyouhaven’tconqueredusyet,”calledBetsyindignantly.
“No,”agreedFiles,“thatisafact.Butifmyofficerswillkindlycommandmetoconqueryou,Iwilldosoatonce,afterwhichwecanstoparguingandconversemoreatourease.”
Theofficershadbythistimerisenfromtheirkneesandbrushedthedustfromtheirtrousers.
Tothemtheenemydidnotlookveryfierce,sotheGeneralsandColonelsandMajorsandCaptainsgainedcouragetofacethemandbeganstruttingintheirmosthaughtymanner.
“Youmustunderstand,”saidAnn,“thatIamtheQueenofOogaboo,andthisismyinvincibleArmy.
Wearebusyconqueringtheworld,andsinceyouseemtobeapartoftheworld,andareobstructingourjourney,itisnecessaryforustoconqueryou—unworthythoughyoumaybeofsuchhighhonor.”
“That’sallright,”repliedShaggy.“Conquerusasoftenasyoulike.Wedon’tmind.”
“Butwewon’tbeanybody’sslaves,”addedBetsy,positively.
“We’llseeaboutthat,”retortedtheQueen,angrily.“Advance,PrivateFiles,andbindtheenemyhandandfoot!”
ButPrivateFileslookedatprettyBetsyandfascinatingPolychromeandthebeautifulRosePrincessandshookhishead.
“Itwouldbeimpolite,andIwon’tdoit,”heasserted.
“Youmust!”criedAnn.“Itisyourdutytoobeyorders.”
“Ihaven’treceivedanyordersfrommyofficers,”objectedthePrivate.
ButtheGeneralsnowshouted:“Forward,andbindtheprisoners!”andtheColonelsandMajorsandCaptainsrepeatedthecommand,yellingitasloudastheycould.
AllthisnoiseannoyedHank,whohadbeeneyeingtheArmyofOogaboowithstrongdisfavor.
Themulenowdashedforwardandbeganbackingupontheofficersandkickingfierceanddangerousheelsatthem.
Theattackwassosuddenthattheofficersscatteredlikedustinawhirlwind,droppingtheirswordsastheyranandtryingtoseekrefugebehindthetreesandbushes.
Betsylaughedjoyouslyatthecomicalroutofthe“noblearmy,”andPolychromedancedwithglee.ButAnnwasfuriousatthisignobledefeatofhergallantforcesbyonesmallmule.
“PrivateFiles,Icommandyoutodoyourduty!”
shecriedagain,andthensheherselfduckedtoescapethemule’sheels—forHankmadenodistinctioninfavorofaladywhowasanopenenemy.
Betsygrabbedherchampionbytheforelock,however,andsoheldhimfast,andwhentheofficerssawthatthemulewasrestrainedfromfurtherattackstheycreptfearfullybackandpickeduptheirdiscardedswords.
“PrivateFiles,seizeandbindtheseprisoners!”screamedtheQueen.
“No,”saidFiles,throwingdownhisgunandremovingtheknapsack,whichwasstrappedtohisback,“IresignmypositionastheArmyofOogaboo.
Ienlistedtofighttheenemyandbecomeahero,butifyouwantsomeonetobindharmlessgirlsyouwillhavetohireanotherPrivate.”
ThenhewalkedovertotheothersandshookhandswithShaggyandTik-Tok.
“Treason!”shriekedAnn,andalltheofficersechoedhercry.
“Nonsense,”saidFiles.“I’vetherighttoresignifIwantto.”
“Indeedyouhaven’t!”retortedtheQueen.
“IfyouresignitwillbreakupmyArmy,andthenIcannotconquertheworld.”
Shenowturnedtotheofficersandsaid:“Imustaskyoutodomeafavor.
Iknowitisundignifiedinofficerstofight,butunlessyouimmediatelycapturePrivateFilesandforcehimtoobeymyorderstherewillbenoplunderforanyofus.
Alsoitislikelyyouwillallsufferthepangsofhunger,andwhenwemeetapowerfulfoeyouareliabletobecapturedandmadeslaves.”
TheprospectofthisawfulfatesofrightenedtheofficersthattheydrewtheirswordsandrusheduponFiles,whostoodbesideShaggy,inatrulyferociousmanner.
Thenextinstant,however,theyhaltedandagainfellupontheirknees;forthere,beforethem,wastheglisteningLoveMagnet,heldinthehandofthesmilingShaggyMan,andthesightofthismagictalismanatoncewontheheartofeveryOogabooite.
EvenAnnsawtheLoveMagnet,andforgettingallenmityandangerthrewherselfuponShaggyandembracedhimlovingly.
QuitedisconcertedbythisunexpectedeffectoftheMagnet,ShaggydisengagedhimselffromtheQueen’sencirclingarmsandquicklyhidthetalismaninhispocket.
TheadventurersfromOogaboowerenowhisfirmfriends,andtherewasnomoretalkaboutconqueringandbindinganyofhisparty.
“Ifyouinsistonconqueringanyone,”saidShaggy,“youmaymarchwithmetotheundergroundKingdomofRuggedo.
Toconquertheworld,asyouhavesetouttodo,youmustconquereveryoneunderitssurfaceaswellasthoseuponitssurface,andnooneinalltheworldneedsconqueringsomuchasRuggedo.”
“Whoishe?”askedAnn.
“TheMetalMonarch,KingoftheNomes.”
“Isherich?”inquiredMajorStockingsinananxiousvoice.
“Ofcourse,”answeredShaggy.“Heownsallthemetalthatliesunderground—gold,silver,copper,brassandtin.
Hehasanideahealsoownsallthemetalsaboveground,forhesaysallmetalwasonceapartofhiskingdom.
So,byconqueringtheMetalMonarch,youwillwinalltherichesintheworld.”
“Ah!”exclaimedGeneralApple,heavingadeepsigh,“thatwouldbeplunderworthourwhile.Let’sconquerhim,YourMajesty.”
TheQueenlookedreproachfullyatFiles,whowassittingnexttothelovelyPrincessandwhisperinginherear.
“Alas,”saidAnn,“IhavenolongeranArmy.Ihaveplentyofbraveofficers,indeed,butnoprivatesoldierforthemtocommand.ThereforeIcannotconquerRuggedoandwinallhiswealth.”
“Whydon’tyoumakeoneofyourofficersthePrivate?”askedShaggy;butatonceeveryofficerbegantoprotestandtheQueenofOogabooshookherheadasshereplied:
“Thatisimpossible.Aprivatesoldiermustbeaterriblefighter,andmyofficersareunabletofight.
Theyareexceptionallybraveincommandingotherstofight,butcouldnotthemselvesmeettheenemyandconquer.”
“Verytrue,YourMajesty,”saidColonelPlum,eagerly.
“Therearemanykindsofbraveryandonecannotbeexpectedtopossessthemall.
Imyselfambraveasalioninallwaysuntilitcomestofighting,butthenmynaturerevolts.
Fightingisunkindandliabletobeinjurioustoothers;so,beingagentleman,Ineverfight.”
“NorI!”shoutedeachoftheotherofficers.
“Yousee,”saidAnn,“howhelplessIam.
HadnotPrivateFilesprovedhimselfatraitorandadeserter,IwouldgladlyhaveconqueredthisRuggedo;butanArmywithoutaprivatesoldierislikeabeewithoutastinger.”
“Iamnotatraitor,YourMajesty,”protestedFiles.“Iresignedinapropermanner,notlikingthejob.Butthereareplentyofpeopletotakemyplace.WhynotmakeShaggyMantheprivatesoldier?”
“Hemightbekilled,”saidAnn,lookingtenderlyatShaggy,“forheismortal,andabletodie.Ifanythinghappenedtohim,itwouldbreakmyheart.”
“Itwouldhurtmeworsethanthat,”declaredShaggy.
“Youmustadmit,YourMajesty,thatIamcommanderofthisexpedition,foritismybrotherweareseeking,ratherthanplunder.
ButIandmycompanionswouldliketheassistanceofyourArmy,andifyouhelpustoconquerRuggedoandtorescuemybrotherfromcaptivitywewillallowyoutokeepallthegoldandjewelsandotherplunderyoumayfind.”
ThisprospectwassotemptingthattheofficersbeganwhisperingtogetherandpresentlyColonelCheesesaid:“YourMajesty,bycombiningourbrainswehavejustevolvedamostbrilliantidea.
WewillmaketheClockworkMantheprivatesoldier!”
“Who?Me?”askedTik-Tok.“Notforasin-glesec-ond!Ican-notfight,andyoumustnotfor-getthatitwasRug-ge-dowhothrewmeinthewell.”
“Atthattimeyouhadnogun,”saidPolychrome.“ButifyoujointheArmyofOogabooyouwillcarrythegunthatMr.Filesused.”
“Asol-diermustbea-bletorunaswellastofight,”protestedTik-Tok,“andifmyworksrundown,astheyof-tendo,Icouldnei-therrunnorfight.”
“I’llkeepyouwoundup,Tik-Tok,”promisedBetsy.
“Why,itisn’tabadidea,”saidShaggy.
“Tik-Tokwillmakeanidealsoldier,fornothingcaninjurehimexceptasledgehammer.
And,sinceaprivatesoldierseemstobenecessarytothisArmy,Tik-Tokistheonlyoneofourpartyfittedtoundertakethejob.”
“WhatmustIdo?”askedTik-Tok.
“Obeyorders,”repliedAnn.“Whentheofficerscommandyoutodoanything,youmustdoit;thatisall.”
“Andthat’senough,too,”saidFiles.
“DoIgetasalary?”inquiredTik-Tok.
“Yougetyourshareoftheplunder,”answeredtheQueen.
“Yes,”remarkedFiles,“one-halfoftheplundergoestoQueenAnn,theotherhalfisdividedamongtheofficers,andthePrivategetstherest.”
“Thatwillbesat-is-fac-tor-y,”saidTik-Tok,pickingupthegunandexaminingitwonderingly,forhehadneverbeforeseensuchaweapon.
ThenAnnstrappedtheknapsacktoTik-Tok’scopperbackandsaid:“NowwearereadytomarchtoRuggedo’sKingdomandconquerit.Officers,givethecommandtomarch.”
“Fall—in!”yelledtheGenerals,drawingtheirswords.
“Fall—in!”criedtheColonels,drawingtheirswords.
“Fall—in!”shoutedtheMajors,drawingtheirswords.
“Fall—in!”bawledtheCaptains,drawingtheirswords.
Tik-Toklookedatthemandthenaroundhiminsurprise.
“Fallinwhat?Thewell?”heasked.
“No,”saidQueenAnn,“youmustfallinmarchingorder.”
“Can-notImarchwithoutfall-ingin-toit?”askedtheClockworkMan.
“Shoulderyourgunandstandreadytomarch,”advisedFiles;soTik-Tokheldthegunstraightandstoodstill.
“Whatnext?”heasked.
TheQueenturnedtoShaggy.
“WhichroadleadstotheMetalMonarch’scavern?”
“Wedon’tknow,YourMajesty,”wasthereply.
“Butthisisabsurd!”saidAnnwithafrown.“Ifwecan’tgettoRuggedo,itiscertainthatwecan’tconquerhim.”
“Youareright,”admittedShaggy;“butIdidnotsaywecouldnotgettohim.
Wehaveonlytodiscovertheway,andthatwasthematterwewereconsideringwhenyouandyourmagnificentArmyarrivedhere.”
“Well,then,getbusyanddiscoverit,”snappedtheQueen.
Thatwasnoeasytask.Theyallstoodlookingfromoneroadtoanotherinperplexity.
Thepathsradiatedfromthelittleclearingliketheraysofthemiddaysun,andeachpathseemedlikealltheothers.
FilesandtheRosePrincess,whohadbythistimebecomegoodfriends,advancedalittlewayalongoneoftheroadsandfoundthatitwasborderedbyprettywildflowers.
“Whydon’tyouasktheflowerstotellyoutheway?”hesaidtohiscompanion.
“Theflowers?”returnedthePrincess,surprisedatthequestion.
“Ofcourse,”saidFiles.“Thefield-flowersmustbesecond-cousinstoaRosePrincess,andIbelieveifyouaskthemtheywilltellyou.”
Shelookedmorecloselyattheflowers.Therewerehundredsofwhitedaisies,goldenbuttercups,bluebellsanddaffodilsgrowingbytheroadside,andeachflower-headwasfirmlysetuponitsslenderbutstoutstem.
TherewereevenafewwildrosesscatteredhereandthereandperhapsitwasthesightofthesethatgavethePrincesscouragetoasktheimportantquestion.
Shedroppedtoherknees,facingtheflowers,andextendedbothherarmspleadinglytowardthem.
“Tellme,prettycousins,”shesaidinhersweet,gentlevoice,“whichwaywillleadustotheKingdomofRuggedo,theNomeKing?”
Atonceallthestemsbentgracefullytotherightandtheflowerheadsnoddedonce—twice—thriceinthatdirection.
“That’sit!”criedFilesjoyfully.“Nowweknowtheway.”
Ozgarosetoherfeetandlookedwonderinglyatthefield-flowers,whichhadnowresumedtheiruprightposition.
“Wasitthewind,doyouthink?”sheaskedinalowwhisper.
“No,indeed,”repliedFiles.“Thereisnotabreathofwindstirring.Buttheselovelyblossomsareindeedyourcousinsandansweredyourquestionatonce,asIknewtheywould.”
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