English
AlltheadventurerswerereunitednextmorningwhentheywerebroughtfromvariouspalacestotheResidenceofTititi-HoochooandusheredintothegreatHallofState.
Asbefore,noonewasvisibleexceptourfriendsandtheirescortsuntilthefirstbellsounded.
TheninaflashtheroomwasseentobefilledwiththebeautifulKingsandQueensoftheland.
ThesecondbellmarkedtheappearanceinthethroneofthemightyJinjin,whosehandsomecountenancewasascomposedandexpressionlessasever.
AllbowedlowtotheRuler.Theirvoicessoftlymurmured:“WegreetthePrivateCitizen,mightiestofRulers,whosewordisLawandwhoseLawisjust.”
Tititi-Hoochoobowedinacknowledgment.
Then,lookingaroundthebrilliantassemblage,andatthelittlegroupofadventurersbeforehim,hesaid:
“Anunusualthinghashappened.Inhabitantsofotherlandsthanours,whoaredifferentfromourselvesinmanyways,havebeenthrustuponusthroughtheForbiddenTube,whichoneofourpeoplefoolishlymadeyearsagoandwasproperlypunishedforhisfolly.
ButthesestrangershadnodesiretocomehereandwerewickedlythrustintotheTubebyacruelKingontheothersideoftheworld,namedRuggedo.
ThisKingisanimmortal,butheisnotgood.
Hismagicpowershurtmankindmorethantheybenefitthem.
BecausehehadunjustlykepttheShaggyMan’sbrotheraprisoner,thislittlebandofhonestpeople,consistingofbothmortalsandimmortals,determinedtoconquerRuggedoandtopunishhim.
Fearingtheymightsucceedinthis,theNomeKingmisledthemsothattheyfellintotheTube.
“Now,thissameRuggedohasbeenwarnedbyme,manytimes,thatifeverheusedthisForbiddenTubeinanywayhewouldbeseverelypunished.
Ifind,byreferringtotheFairyRecords,thatthisKing’sservant,anomenamedKaliko,beggedhismasternottodosuchawrongactastodropthesepeopleintotheTubeandsendthemtumblingintoourcountry.ButRuggedodefiedmeandmyorders.
“Thereforethesestrangersareinnocentofanywrong.ItisonlyRuggedowhodeservespunishment,andIwillpunishhim.”Hepausedamomentandthencontinuedinthesamecold,mercilessvoice:
“ThesestrangersmustreturnthroughtheTubetotheirownsideoftheworld;butIwillmaketheirfallmoreeasyandpleasantthanitwasbefore.
AlsoIshallsendwiththemanInstrumentofVengeance,whoinmynamewilldriveRuggedofromhisundergroundcaverns,takeawayhismagicpowersandmakehimahomelesswandereronthefaceoftheearth—aplacehedetests.”
TherewasalittlemurmurofhorrorfromtheKingsandQueensattheseverityofthispunishment,butnooneutteredaprotest,forallrealizedthatthesentencewasjust.
“InselectingmyInstrumentofVengeance,”wentonTititi-Hoochoo,“Ihaverealizedthatthiswillbeanunpleasantmission.
Thereforenooneofuswhoisblamelessshouldbeforcedtoundertakeit.
Inthiswonderfullanditisseldomoneisguiltyofwrong,evenintheslightestdegree,andonexaminingtheRecordsIfoundnoKingorQueenhaderred.
Norhadanyamongtheirfollowersorservantsdoneanywrong.
ButfinallyIcametotheDragonFamily,whichwehighlyrespect,andthenitwasthatIdiscoveredtheerrorofQuox.
“Quox,asyouwellknow,isayoungdragonwhohasnotyetacquiredthewisdomofhisrace.
Becauseofthislack,hehasbeendisrespectfultowardhismostancientancestor,theOriginalDragon,tellinghimoncetomindhisownbusinessandagainsayingthattheAncientOnehadgrownfoolishwithage.
Weareawarethatdragonsarenotthesameasfairiesandcannotbealtogetherguidedbyourlaws,yetsuchdisrespectasQuoxhasshownshouldnotbeunnoticedbyus.
ThereforeIhaveselectedQuoxasmyroyalInstrumentofVengeanceandheshallgothroughtheTubewiththesepeopleandinflictuponRuggedothepunishmentIhavedecreed.”
AllhadlistenedquietlytothisspeechandnowtheKingsandQueensbowedgravelytosignifytheirapprovaloftheJinjin’sjudgment.
Tititi-HoochooturnedtoTubekins.
“Icommandyou,”saidhe,“toescortthesestrangerstotheTubeandseethattheyallenterit.”
TheKingoftheTube,whohadfirstdiscoveredourfriendsandbroughtthemtothePrivateCitizen,steppedforwardandbowed.
Ashedidso,theJinjinandalltheKingsandQueenssuddenlydisappearedandonlyTubekinsremainedvisible.
“Allright,”saidBetsy,withasigh;“Idon’tmindgoingbacksoverymuch,‘causetheJinjinpromisedtomakeiteasyforus.”
Indeed,QueenAnnandherofficersweretheonlyoneswholookedsolemnandseemedtofearthereturnjourney.
OnethingthatbotheredAnnwasherfailuretoconquerthislandofTititi-Hoochoo.
AstheyfollowedtheirguidethroughthegardenstothemouthoftheTubeshesaidtoShaggy:
“HowcanIconquertheworld,ifIgoawayandleavethisrichcountryunconquered?”
“Youcan’t,”hereplied.“Don’taskmewhy,please,forifyoudon’tknowIcan’tinformyou.”
“Whynot?”saidAnn;butShaggypaidnoattentiontothequestion.
ThisendoftheTubehadasilverrimandarounditwasagoldrailingtowhichwasattachedasignthatread.
“IFYOUAREOUT,STAYTHERE.
IFYOUAREIN,DON’TCOMEOUT.”
OnalittlesilverplatejustinsidetheTubewasengravedthewords:
“Burrowedandbuiltby
HiergargotheMagician,
IntheYearoftheWorld
19625478
Forhisownexclusiveuses.”
“Hewassomebuilder,Imustsay,”remarkedBetsy,whenshehadreadtheinscription;“butifhehadknownaboutthatstarIguesshe’dhavespenthistimeplayingsolitaire.”
“Well,whatarewewaitingfor?”inquiredShaggy,whowasimpatienttostart.
“Quox,”repliedTubekins.“ButIthinkIhearhimcoming.”
“Istheyoungdragoninvisible?”askedAnn,whohadneverseenalivedragonandwasalittlefearfulofmeetingone.
“No,indeed,”repliedtheKingoftheTube.“You’llseehiminaminute;butbeforeyoupartcompanyI’msureyou’llwishhewasinvisible.”
“Ishedangerous,then?”questionedFiles.
“Notatall.ButQuoxtiresmedreadfully,”saidTubekins,“andIpreferhisroomtohiscompany.
Atthatinstantascrapingsoundwasheard,drawingnearerandneareruntilfrombetweentwobigbushesappearedahugedragon,whoapproachedtheparty,noddedhisheadandsaid:“Goodmorning.”
HadQuoxbeenatallbashfulIamsurehewouldhavefeltuncomfortableattheastonishedstareofeveryeyeinthegroup—exceptTubekins,ofcourse,whowasnotastonishedbecausehehadseenQuoxsooften.
Betsyhadthoughta“young”dragonmustbeasmalldragon,yetherewasonesoenormousthatthegirldecidedhemustbefullgrown,ifnotovergrown.
Hisbodywasalovelysky-blueincoloranditwasthicklysetwithglitteringsilverscales,eachoneasbigasaserving-tray.
Aroundhisneckwasapinkribbonwithabowjustunderhisleftear,andbelowtheribbonappearedachainofpearlstowhichwasattachedagoldenlocketaboutaslargearoundastheendofabassdrum.
Thislocketwassetwithmanylargeandbeautifuljewels.
TheheadandfaceofQuoxwerenotespeciallyugly,whenyouconsiderthathewasadragon;buthiseyesweresolargethatittookhimalongtimetowinkandhisteethseemedverysharpandterriblewhentheyshowed,whichtheydidwheneverthebeastsmiled.
Alsohisnostrilswerequitelargeandwide,andthosewhostoodnearhimwereliabletosmellbrimstone—especiallywhenhebreathedoutfire,asitisthenatureofdragonstodo.
Totheendofhislongtailwasattachedabigelectriclight.
Perhapsthemostsingularthingaboutthedragon’sappearanceatthistimewasthefactthathehadarowofseatsattachedtohisback,oneseatforeachmemberoftheparty.
Theseseatsweredouble,withcurvedbacks,sothattwocouldsitinthem,andthereweretwelveofthesedoubleseats,allstrappedfirmlyaroundthedragon’sthickbodyandplacedonebehindtheother,inarowthatextendedfromhisshouldersnearlytohistail.
“Aha!”exclaimedTubekins;“IseethatTititi-HoochoohastransformedQuoxintoacarryall.”
“I’mgladofthat,”saidBetsy.“Ihope,Mr.Dragon,youwon’tmindourridingonyourback.”
“Notabit,”repliedQuox.“I’mindisgracejustnow,youknow,andtheonlywaytoredeemmygoodnameistoobeytheordersoftheJinjin.
Ifhemakesmeabeastofburden,itisonlyapartofmypunishment,andImustbearitlikeadragon.
Idon’tblameyoupeopleatall,andIhopeyou’llenjoytheride.Hopon,please.
Allaboardfortheothersideoftheworld!”
Silentlytheytooktheirplaces.HanksatinthefrontseatwithBetsy,sothathecouldresthisfronthoofsuponthedragon’shead.
BehindthemwereShaggyandPolychrome,thenFilesandthePrincess,andQueenAnnandTik-Tok.Theofficersrodeintherearseats.
Whenallhadmountedtotheirplacesthedragonlookedverylikeoneofthosesightseeingwagonssocommoninbigcities—onlyhehadlegsinsteadofwheels.
“Allready?”askedQuox,andwhentheysaidtheywerehecrawledtothemouthoftheTubeandputhisheadin.
“Good-bye,andgoodlucktoyou!”calledTubekins;butnoonethoughttoreply,becausejustthenthedragonslidhisgreatbodyintotheTubeandthejourneytotheothersideoftheworldhadbegun.
Atfirsttheywentsofastthattheycouldscarcelycatchtheirbreaths,butpresentlyQuoxslowedupandsaidwithasortofcacklinglaugh:
“Myscales!Butthatissometumble.IthinkIshalltakeiteasyandfallslower,orI’mlikelytogetdizzy.Isitveryfartotheothersideoftheworld?”
“Haven’tyoueverbeenthroughthisTubebefore?”inquiredShaggy.
“Never.Norhasanyoneelseinourcountry;atleast,notsinceIwasborn.”
“Howlongagowasthat?”askedBetsy.
“ThatIwasborn?Oh,notverylongago.I’monlyamerechild.
IfIhadnotbeensentonthisjourney,Iwouldhavecelebratedmythreethousandandfifty-sixthbirthdaynextThursday.
Motherwasgoingtomakemeabirthdaycakewiththreethousandandfifty-sixcandlesonit;butnow,ofcourse,therewillbenocelebration,forIfearIshallnotgethomeintimeforit.”
“Threethousandandfifty-sixyears!”criedBetsy.“Why,Ihadnoideaanythingcouldlivethatlong!”
“MyrespectedAncestor,whomIwouldcallastupidoldhumbugifIhadnotreformed,issooldthatIamamerebabycomparedwithhim,”saidQuox.
“Hedatesfromthebeginningoftheworld,andinsistsontellingusstoriesofthingsthathappenedfiftythousandyearsago,whichareofnointerestatalltoyoungsterslikeme.Infact,Grandpaisn’tuptodate.
Helivesaltogetherinthepast,soIcan’tseeanygoodreasonforhisbeingaliveto-day....Areyoupeopleabletoseeyourway,orshallIturnonmorelight?”
“Oh,wecanseeverynicely,thankyou;onlythere’snothingtoseebutourselves,”answeredBetsy.
Thiswastrue.Thedragon’sbigeyeswerelikeheadlightsonanautomobileandilluminatedtheTubefaraheadofthem.
Alsohecurledhistailupwardsothattheelectriclightontheendofitenabledthemtoseeoneanotherquiteclearly.
ButtheTubeitselfwasonlydarkmetal,smoothasglassbutexactlythesamefromoneofitsendstotheother.
Thereforetherewasnosceneryofinteresttobeguilethejourney.
Theywerenowfallingsogentlythatthetripwasprovingentirelycomfortable,astheJinjinhadpromiseditwouldbe;butthismeantalongerjourneyandtheonlywaytheycouldmaketimepasswastoengageinconversation.
Thedragonseemedawillingandpersistenttalkerandhewasofsomuchinteresttothemthattheyencouragedhimtochatter.
Hisvoicewasalittlegruffbutnotunpleasantwhenonebecameusedtoit.
“Myonlyfear,”saidhepresently,“isthatthisconstantslidingoverthesurfaceoftheTubewilldullmyclaws.
Yousee,thisholeisn’tstraightdown,butonasteepslant,andsoinsteadoftumblingfreelythroughtheairImustskatealongtheTube.
Fortunately,thereisafileinmytool-kit,andifmyclawsgetdulltheycanbesharpenedagain.”
“Whydoyouwantsharpclaws?”askedBetsy.
“Theyaremynaturalweapons,andyoumustnotforgetthatIhavebeensenttoconquerRuggedo.”
“Oh,youneedn’tmindaboutthat,”remarkedQueenAnn,inhermosthaughtymanner;“forwhenwegettoRuggedoIandmyinvincibleArmycanconquerhimwithoutyourassistance.”
“Verygood,”returnedthedragon,cheerfully.“Thatwillsavemealotofbother—ifyousucceed.ButIthinkIshallfilemyclaws,justthesame.”
Hegavealongsigh,ashesaidthis,andasheetofflame,severalfeetinlength,shotfromhismouth.
BetsyshudderedandHanksaid“Hee-haw!”
whilesomeoftheofficersscreamedinterror.
Butthedragondidnotnoticethathehaddoneanythingunusual.
“Istherefireinsideofyou?”askedShaggy.
“Ofcourse,”answeredQuox.“WhatsortofadragonwouldIbeifmyfirewentout?”
“Whatkeepsitgoing?”Betsyinquired.
“I’venoidea.Ionlyknowit’sthere,”saidQuox.“Thefirekeepsmealiveandenablesmetomove;alsotothinkandspeak.”
“Ah!Youarever-ymuchlikemy-self,”saidTik-Tok.“Theon-lydif-fer-enceisthatImovebyclock-work,whileyoumovebyfire.”
“Idon’tseeaparticleoflikenessbetweenus,Imustconfess,”retortedQuox,gruffly.“Youarenotalivething;you’readummy.”
“ButIcandothings,youmustad-mit,”saidTik-Tok.
“Yes,whenyouarewoundup,”sneeredthedragon.“Butifyourundown,youarehelpless.”
“Whatwouldhappentoyou,Quox,ifyouranoutofgasoline?”inquiredShaggy,whodidnotlikethisattackuponhisfriend.
“Idon’tusegasoline.”
“Well,supposeyouranoutoffire.”
“What’stheuseofsupposingthat?”askedQuox.
“Mygreat-great-great-grandfatherhaslivedsincetheworldbegan,andhehasneveroncerunoutoffiretokeephimgoing.
ButIwillconfidetoyouthatashegetsolderheshowsmoresmokeandlessfire.
AsforTik-Tok,he’swellenoughinhisway,buthe’smerelycopper.
AndtheMetalMonarchknowscopperthroughandthrough.
Iwouldn’tbesurprisedifRuggedomeltedTik-Tokinoneofhisfurnacesandmadecopperpenniesofhim.”
“Inthatcase,Iwouldstillkeepgoing,”remarkedTik-Tok,calmly.
“Penniesdo,”saidBetsyregretfully.
“Thisisallnonsense,”saidtheQueen,withirritation.“Tik-TokismygreatArmy—allbuttheofficers—andIbelievehewillbeabletoconquerRuggedowithease.Whatdoyouthink,Polychrome?”
“Youmightlethimtry,”answeredtheRainbow’sDaughter,withhersweetringinglaugh,thatsoundedlikethetinklingoftinybells.
“AndifTik-Tokfails,youhavestillthebigfire-breathingdragontofallbackon.”
“Ah!”saidthedragon,anothersheetofflamegushingfromhismouthandnostrils;“it’sawiselittlegirl,thisPolychrome.Anyonewouldknowsheisafairy.”
Share this article to
FINISH