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Thewaytakenbytheadventurersleduphillanddowndaleandwoundhereandthereinafashionthatseemedaimless.
ButalwaysitdrewnearertoarangeoflowmountainsandFilessaidmorethanoncethathewascertaintheentrancetoRuggedo’scavernwouldbefoundamongtheseruggedhills.
Inthishewasquitecorrect.Farunderneaththenearestmountainwasagorgeouschamberhollowedfromthesolidrock,thewallsandroofofwhichglitteredwiththousandsofmagnificentjewels.
Here,onathroneofvirgingold,satthefamousNomeKing,dressedinsplendidrobesandwearingasuperbcrowncutfromasingleblood-redruby.
Ruggedo,theMonarchofalltheMetalsandPreciousStonesoftheUndergroundWorld,wasaroundlittlemanwithaflowingwhitebeard,aredface,brighteyesandascowlthatcoveredallhisforehead.
Onewouldthink,tolookathim,thatheoughttobejolly;onemightthink,consideringhisenormouswealth,thatheoughttobehappy;butthiswasnotthecase.
TheMetalMonarchwassurlyandcrossbecausemortalshaddugsomuchtreasureoutoftheearthandkeptitaboveground,whereallthepowerofRuggedoandhisnomeswasunabletorecoverit.
Hehatednotonlythemortalsbutalsothefairieswholiveupontheearthoraboveit,andinsteadofbeingcontentwiththericheshestillpossessedhewasunhappybecausehedidnotownallthegoldandjewelsintheworld.
Ruggedohadbeennodding,halfasleep,inhischairwhensuddenlyhesatupright,utteredaroarofrageandbeganpoundinguponahugegongthatstoodbesidehim.
Thesoundfilledthevastcavernandpenetratedtomanycavernsbeyond,wherecountlessthousandsofnomeswereworkingattheirunendingtasks,hammeringoutgoldandsilverandothermetals,ormeltingoresingreatfurnaces,orpolishingglitteringgems.
ThenomestrembledatthesoundoftheKing’sgongandwhisperedfearfullytooneanotherthatsomethingunpleasantwassuretohappen;butnonedaredpauseinhistask,
Theheavycurtainsofcloth-of-goldwerepushedasideandKaliko,theKing’sHighChamberlain,enteredtheroyalpresence.
“What’sup,YourMajesty?”heasked,withawideyawn,forhehadjustwakened.
“Up?”roaredRuggedo,stampinghisfootviciously.“Thosefoolishmortalsareup,that’swhat!Andtheywanttocomedown.”
“Downhere?”inquiredKaliko.
“Yes!”
“Howdoyouknow?”continuedtheChamberlain,yawningagain.
“Ifeelitinmybones,”saidRuggedo.“Icanalwaysfeelitwhenthosehatefulearth-crawlersdrawneartomyKingdom.
Iampositive,Kaliko,thatmortalsarethisveryminuteontheirwayheretoannoyme—andIhatemortalsmorethanIdocatniptea!”
“Well,what’stobedone?”demandedthenome.
“Lookthroughyourspyglass,andseewheretheinvadersare,”commandedtheKing.
SoKalikowenttoatubeinthewallofrockandputhiseyetoit.
Thetuberanfromthecavernuptothesideofthemountainandturnedseveralcurvesandcorners,butasitwasamagicspyglassKalikowasabletoseethroughitjustaseasilyasifithadbeenstraight.
“Ho—hum,”saidhe.“Isee‘em,YourMajesty.”
“Whatdotheylooklike?”inquiredtheMonarch.
“That’sahardquestiontoanswer,forastrangerassortmentofcreaturesIneveryetbeheld,”repliedthenome.
“However,suchacollectionofcuriositiesmayprovedangerous.
There’sacopperman,workedbymachinery—”
“Bah!That’sonlyTik-Tok,”saidRuggedo.“I’mnotafraidofhim.Why,onlytheotherdayImetthefellowandthrewhimdownawell.”
“Thensomeonemusthavepulledhimoutagain,”saidKaliko.“Andthere’salittlegirl—”
“Dorothy?”askedRuggedo,jumpingupinfear.
“No;someothergirl.Infact,thereareseveralgirls,ofvarioussizes;butDorothyisnotwiththem,norisOzma.”
“That’sgood!”exclaimedtheKing,sighinginrelief.
Kalikostillhadhiseyetothespyglass.
“Isee,”saidhe,“anarmyofmenfromOogaboo.Theyareallofficersandcarryswords.AndthereisaShaggyMan—whoseemsveryharmless—andalittledonkeywithbigears.”
“Pooh!”criedRuggedo,snappinghisfingersinscorn.“I’venofearofsuchamobasthat.Adozenofmynomescandestroythemallinajiffy.”
“I’mnotsosureofthat,”saidKaliko.“ThepeopleofOogabooarehardtodestroy,andIbelievetheRosePrincessisafairy.
AsforPolychrome,youknowverywellthattheRainbow’sDaughtercannotbeinjuredbyanome.”
“Polychrome!Issheamongthem?”askedtheKing.
“Yes;Ihavejustrecognizedher.”
“Thenthesepeoplearecominghereonnopeacefulerrand,”declaredRuggedo,scowlingfiercely.“Infact,nooneevercomeshereonapeacefulerrand.Ihateeverybody,andeverybodyhatesme!”
“Verytrue,”saidKaliko.
“Imustinsomewaypreventthesepeoplefromreachingmydominions.Wherearetheynow?”
“JustnowtheyarecrossingtheRubberCountry,YourMajesty.”
“Good!Areyourmagneticrubberwiresinworkingorder?”
“Ithinkso,”repliedKaliko.“IsityourRoyalWillthatwehavesomefunwiththeseinvaders?”
“Itis,”answeredRuggedo.“Iwanttoteachthemalessontheywillneverforget.”
Now,ShaggyhadnoideathathewasinaRubberCountry,norhadanyofhiscompanions.
Theynoticedthateverythingaroundthemwasofadullgraycolorandthatthepathuponwhichtheywalkedwassoftandspringy,yettheyhadnosuspicionthattherocksandtreeswererubberandeventhepaththeytrodwasmadeofrubber.
Presentlytheycametoabrookwheresparklingwaterdashedthroughadeepchannelandrushedawaybetweenhighrocksfardownthemountainside.
Acrossthebrookwerestepping-stones,soplacedthattravelersmighteasilyleapfromonetoanotherandinthatmannercrossthewatertothefartherbank.
Tik-Tokwasmarchingahead,followedbyhisofficersandQueenAnn.
AfterthemcameBetsyBobbinandHank,PolychromeandShaggy,andlastofalltheRosePrincesswithFiles.
TheClockworkMansawthestreamandthesteppingstonesand,withoutmakingapause,placedhisfootuponthefirststone.
Theresultwasastonishing.Firsthesankdowninthesoftrubber,whichthenreboundedandsentTik-Toksoaringhighintheair,whereheturnedasuccessionofflip-flopsandalighteduponarubberrockfarintherearoftheparty.
GeneralAppledidnotseeTik-Tokbound,soquicklyhadhedisappeared;thereforehealsosteppeduponthestone(whichyouwillguesswasconnectedwithKaliko’smagneticrubberwire)andinstantlyshotupwardlikeanarrow.
GeneralConecamenextandmetwithalikefate,buttheothersnownoticedthatsomethingwaswrongandwithoneaccordtheyhaltedthecolumnandlookedbackalongthepath.
TherewasTik-Tok,stillboundingfromonerubberrocktoanother,eachtimerisingalessdistancefromtheground.
AndtherewasGeneralApple,boundingawayinanotherdirection,histhree-corneredhatjammedoverhiseyesandhislongswordthumpinghimuponthearmsandheadasitswungthiswayandthat.
Andthere,also,appearedGeneralCone,whohadstruckarubberrockheadforemostandwassocrumpledupthathisroundbodylookedmorelikeabouncing-ballthantheformofaman.
BetsylaughedmerrilyatthestrangesightandPolychromeechoedherlaughter.
ButOzgawasgraveandwondering,whileQueenAnnbecameangryatseeingthechiefofficersoftheArmyofOogabooboundingaroundinsoundignifiedamanner.
Sheshoutedtothemtostop,buttheywereunabletoobey,eventhoughtheywouldhavebeengladtodoso.
Finally,however,theyallceasedboundingandmanagedtogetupontheirfeetandrejointheArmy.
“Whydidyoudothat?”demandedAnn,whoseemedgreatlyprovoked.
“Don’taskthemwhy,”saidShaggyearnestly.
“Iknewyouwouldaskthemwhy,butyououghtnottodoit.Thereasonisplain.
Thosestonesarerubber;thereforetheyarenotstones.
Thoserocksaroundusarerubber,andthereforetheyarenotrocks.
Eventhispathisnotapath;it’srubber.
Unlessweareverycareful,yourMajesty,wearealllikelytogetthebounce,justasyourpoorofficersandTik-Tokdid.”
“Thenlet’sbecareful,”remarkedFiles,whowasfullofwisdom;butPolychromewantedtotestthequalityoftherubber,soshebegandancing.
Everystepsentherhigherandhigherintotheair,sothatsheresembledabigbutterflyflutteringlightly.
Presentlyshemadeagreatboundandboundedwayacrossthestream,landinglightlyandsteadilyontheotherside.
“Thereisnorubberoverhere,”shecalledtothem.“Supposeyoualltrytoboundoverthestream,withouttouchingthestepping-stones.”
Annandherofficerswerereluctanttoundertakesuchariskyadventure,butBetsyatoncegraspedthevalueofthesuggestionandbeganjumpingupanddownuntilshefoundherselfboundingalmostashighasPolychromehaddone.
Thenshesuddenlyleanedforwardandthenextboundtookhereasilyacrossthebrook,whereshealightedbythesideoftheRainbow’sDaughter.
“Comeon,Hank!”calledthegirl,andthedonkeytriedtoobey.
Hemanagedtoboundprettyhighbutwhenhetriedtoboundacrossthestreamhemisjudgedthedistanceandfellwithasplashintothemiddleofthewater.
“Hee-haw!”hewailed,strugglingtowardthefarbank.Betsyrushedforwardtohelphimout,butwhenthemulestoodsafelybesidehershewasamazedtofindhewasnotwetatall.
“It’sdrywater,”saidPolychrome,dippingherhandintothestreamandshowinghowthewaterfellfromitandleftitperfectlydry.
“Inthatcase,”returnedBetsy,“theycanallwalkthroughthewater.”
ShecalledtoOzgaandShaggytowadeacross,assuringthemthewaterwasshallowandwouldnotwetthem.
Atoncetheyfollowedheradvice,avoidingtherubbersteppingstones,andmadethecrossingwithease.
Thisencouragedtheentirepartytowadethroughthedrywater,andinafewminutesallhadassembledonthebankandrenewedtheirjourneyalongthepaththatledtotheNomeKing’sdominions.
WhenKalikoagainlookedthroughhismagicspyglassheexclaimed:
“Badluck,YourMajesty!AlltheinvadershavepassedtheRubberCountryandnowarefastapproachingtheentrancetoyourcaverns.”
Ruggedoravedandstormedatthenewsandhisangerwassogreatthatseveraltimes,ashestrodeupanddownhisjeweledcavern,hepausedtokickKalikouponhisshins,whichweresosensitivethatthepoornomehowledwithpain.FinallytheKingsaid:
“There’snohelpforit;wemustdroptheseaudaciousinvadersdowntheHollowTube.”
Kalikogaveajump,atthis,andlookedathismasterwonderingly.
“Ifyoudothat,YourMajesty,”hesaid,“youwillmakeTititi-Hoochooveryangry.”
“Nevermindthat,”retortedRuggedo.“Tititi-Hoochoolivesontheothersideoftheworld,sowhatdoIcareforhisanger?”
Kalikoshudderedandutteredalittlegroan.
“Rememberhisterriblepowers,”hepleaded,“andrememberthathewarnedyou,thelasttimeyouslidpeoplethroughtheHollowTube,thatifyoudiditagainhewouldtakevengeanceuponyou.”
TheMetalMonarchwalkedupanddowninsilence,thinkingdeeply.
“Oftwodangers,”saidhe,“itiswisetochoosetheleast.Whatdoyousupposetheseinvaderswant?”
“LettheLong-EaredHearerlistentothem,”suggestedKaliko.
“Callhimhereatonce!”commandedRuggedoeagerly.
Soinafewminutesthereenteredthecavernanomewithenormousears,whobowedlowbeforetheKing.
“Strangersareapproaching,”saidRuggedo,“andIwishtoknowtheirerrand.Listencarefullytotheirtalkandtellmewhytheyarecominghere,andwhatfor.”
Thenomebowedagainandspreadouthisgreatears,swayingthemgentlyupanddownandbackandforth.
Forhalfanhourhestoodsilent,inanattitudeoflistening,whileboththeKingandKalikogrewimpatientatthedelay.AtlasttheLong-EaredHearerspoke:
“ShaggyManiscomingheretorescuehisbrotherfromcaptivity,”saidhe.
“Ha,theUglyOne!”exclaimedRuggedo.“Well,ShaggyManmayhavehisuglybrother,forallIcare.He’stoolazytoworkandisalwaysgettinginmyway.WhereistheUglyOnenow,Kaliko?”
“ThelasttimeYourMajestystumbledovertheprisoneryoucommandedmetosendhimtotheMetalForest,whichIdid.Isupposeheisstillthere.”
“Verygood.TheinvaderswillhaveahardtimefindingtheMetalForest,”saidtheKing,withagrinofmaliciousdelight,“forhalfthetimeIcan’tfinditmyself.
YetIcreatedtheforestandmadeeverytree,outofgoldandsilver,soastokeepthepreciousmetalsinasafeplaceandoutofthereachofmortals.
Buttellme,Hearer,dothestrangerswantanythingelse?”
“Yes,indeedtheydo!”returnedthenome.
“TheArmyofOogabooisdeterminedtocapturealltherichmetalsandrarejewelsinyourkingdom,andtheofficersandtheirQueenhavearrangedtodividethespoilsandcarrythemaway.”
WhenheheardthisRuggedoutteredabellowofrageandbegandancingupanddown,rollinghiseyes,clickinghisteethtogetherandswinginghisarmsfuriously.
Then,inanecstasyofangerheseizedthelongearsoftheHearerandpulledandtwistedthemcruelly;butKalikograbbeduptheKing’ssceptreandrappedhimovertheknuckleswithit,sothatRuggedoletgotheearsandbegantochasehisRoyalChamberlainaroundthethrone.
TheHearertookadvantageofthisopportunitytoslipawayfromthecavernandescape,andaftertheKinghadtiredhimselfoutchasingKalikohethrewhimselfintohisthroneandpantedforbreath,whileheglaredwickedlyathisdefiantsubject.
“You’dbettersaveyourstrengthtofighttheenemy,”suggestedKaliko.“TherewillbeaterriblebattlewhentheArmyofOogaboogetshere.”
“TheArmywon’tgethere,”saidtheKing,stillcoughingandpanting.“I’lldrop‘emdowntheHollowTube—everymanJackandeverygirlJillof‘em!”
“AnddefyTititi-Hoochoo?”askedKaliko.
“Yes.GoatoncetomyChiefMagicianandorderhimtoturnthepathtowardtheHollowTube,andtomakethetipoftheTubeinvisible,sothey’llallfallintoit.”
Kalikowentawayshakinghishead,forhethoughtRuggedowasmakingagreatmistake.
HefoundtheMagicianandhadthepathtwistedsothatitleddirectlytotheopeningoftheHollowTube,andthisopeninghemadeinvisible.
Havingobeyedtheordersofhismaster,theRoyalChamberlainwenttohisprivateroomandbegantowritelettersofrecommendationofhimself,statingthathewasanhonestman,agoodservantandasmalleater.
“Prettysoon,”hesaidtohimself,“Ishallhavetolookforanotherjob,foritiscertainthatRuggedohasruinedhimselfbythisrecklessdefianceofthemightyTititi-Hoochoo.
Andinseekingajobnothingissoeffectiveasaletterofrecommendation.”
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