English
“Don’tletusworry,”saidShaggytohiscompanions,“foritmaytaketheQueensometimetoconquertheMetalMonarch,asTik-Tokhastodoeverythinginhisslow,mechanicalway.”
“Doyousupposetheyarelikelytofail?”askedtheRosePrincess.
“Ido,indeed,”repliedShaggy.“ThisNomeKingisreallyapowerfulfellowandhasalegionofnomestoassisthim,whereasourboldQueencommandsaClockworkManandabandoffaint-heartedofficers.”
“SheoughttohaveletQuoxdotheconquering,”saidPolychrome,dancinglightlyuponapointofrockandflutteringherbeautifuldraperies.
“Butperhapsthedragonwaswisetolethergofirst,forwhenshefailstoconquerRuggedoshemaybecomemoremodestinherambitions.”
“Whereisthedragonnow?”inquiredOzga.
“Upthereontherocks,”repliedFiles.“Look,mydear;youmayseehimfromhere.
HesaidhewouldtakealittlenapwhileweweremixingupwithRuggedo,andheaddedthatafterwehadgottenintotroublehewouldwakeupandconquertheNomeKinginajiffy,ashismastertheJinjinhasorderedhimtodo.”
“Quoxmeanswell,”saidShaggy,“butIdonotthinkweshallneedhisservices;forjustassoonasIamsatisfiedthatQueenAnnandherarmyhavefailedtoconquerRuggedo,IshallenterthecavernsandshowtheKingmyLoveMagnet.
Thathecannotresist;thereforetheconquestwillbemadewithease.”
ThisspeechofShaggyMan’swasoverheardbytheLong-EaredHearer,whowasatthatmomentstandingbyRuggedo’sside.
ForwhentheKingandGuphhadrecoveredfromHank’skickandhadpickedthemselvesup,theirfirstactwastoturnTik-Tokonhisbackandputaheavydiamondontopofhim,sothathecouldnotgetupagain.
ThentheycarefullyputhisguninacornerofthecavernandtheKingsentGuphtofetchtheLong-EaredHearer.
TheHearerwasstillangryatRuggedoforbreakinghisear,butheacknowledgedtheNomeKingtobehismasterandwasreadytoobeyhiscommands.
ThereforeherepeatedShaggy’sspeechtotheKing,whoatoncerealizedthathisKingdomwasingravedanger.
ForRuggedoknewoftheLoveMagnetanditspowersandwashorrifiedatthethoughtthatShaggymightshowhimthemagictalismanandturnallthehatredinhisheartintolove.
Ruggedowasproudofhishatredandabhorredloveofanysort.
“Really,”saidhe,“I’dratherheconqueredandlosemywealthandmyKingdomthangazeatthatawfulLoveMagnet.WhatcanIdotopreventtheShaggyManfromtakingitoutofhispocket?”
Kalikoreturnedtothecavernintimetooverhearthisquestion,andbeingaloyalnomeandeagertoservehisKing,heansweredbysaying:
“IfwecanmanagetobindtheShaggyMan’sarms,tighttohisbody,hecouldnotgettheLoveMagnetoutofhispocket.”
“True!”criedtheKingindelightatthiseasysolutionoftheproblem.
“Getatonceadozennomes,withropes,andplacetheminthepassagewheretheycanseizeandbindShaggyassoonasheenters.”
ThisKalikodid,andmeanwhilethewatchersoutsidetheentranceweregrowingmoreandmoreuneasyabouttheirfriends.
“Idon’tworrysomuchabouttheOogaboopeople,”saidPolychrome,whohadgrownsoberwithwaiting,andperhapsalittlenervous,“fortheycouldnotbekilled,eventhoughRuggedomightcausethemmuchsufferingandperhapsdestroythemutterly.
ButweshouldnothaveallowedBetsyandHanktogoaloneintothecaverns.
Thelittlegirlismortalandpossessesnomagicpowerswhatever,soifRuggedocaptureshershewillbewhollyathismercy.”
“Thatisindeedtrue,”repliedShaggy.“Iwouldn’tliketohaveanythinghappentodearlittleBetsy,soIbelieveI’llgoinrightawayandputanendtoallthisworry.”
“Wemayaswellgowithyou,”assertedFiles,“forbymeansoftheLoveMagnet,youcansoonbringtheNomeKingtoreason.”
Soitwasdecidedtowaitnolonger.Shaggywalkedthroughtheentrancefirst,andafterhimcametheothers.
Theyhadnothoughtofdangertothemselves,andShaggy,whowasgoingalongwithhishandsthrustintohispockets,wasmuchsurprisedwhenaropeshotoutfromthedarknessandtwinedaroundhisbody,pinningdownhisarmssosecurelythathecouldnotevenwithdrawhishandsfromthepockets.
Thenappearedseveralgrinningnomes,whospeedilytiedknotsintheropesandthenledtheprisoneralongthepassagetothecavern.
Noattentionwaspaidtotheothers,butFilesandthePrincessfollowedonafterShaggy,determinednottodeserttheirfriendandhopingthatanopportunitymightarisetorescuehim.
AsforPolychrome,assoonasshesawthattroublehadovertakenShaggysheturnedandranlightlybackthroughthepassageandoutoftheentrance.
Thensheeasilyleapedfromrocktorockuntilshepausedbesidethegreatdragon,wholayfastasleep.
“Wakeup,Quox!”shecried.“Itistimeforyoutoact.”
ButQuoxdidnotwakeup.Helayasoneinatrance,absolutelymotionless,withhisenormouseyestightclosed.Theeyelidshadbigsilverscalesonthem,likealltherestofhisbody.
PolychromemighthavethoughtQuoxwasdeadhadshenotknownthatdragonsdonotdieeasilyorhadshenotobservedhishugebodyswellingashebreathed.
Shepickedupapieceofrockandpoundedagainsthiseyelidswithit,saying:
“Wakeup,Quox—wakeup!”Buthewouldnotwaken.
“Dearme,howunfortunate!”sighedthelovelyRainbow’sDaughter.
“Iwonderwhatisthebestandsurestwaytowakenadragon.
Allourfriendsmaybecapturedanddestroyedwhilethisgreatbeastliesasleep.”
ShewalkedaroundQuoxtwoorthreetimes,tryingtodiscoversometenderplaceonhisbodywhereathumporapunchmighthefelt;buthelayextendedalongtherockswithhischinflatuponthegroundandhislegsdrawnunderneathhisbody,andallthatonecouldseewashisthicksky-blueskin—thickerthanthatofarhinoceros—andhissilverscales.
Then,despairingatlastofwakeningthebeast,andworriedoverthefateofherfriends,PolychromeagainrandowntotheentranceandhurriedalongthepassageintotheNomeKing’scavern.
HereshefoundRuggedolollinginhisthroneandsmokingalongpipe.
BesidehimstoodGeneralGuphandKaliko,andrangedbeforetheKingweretheRosePrincess,FilesandtheShaggyMan.
Tik-Tokstilllayuponthefloor,weighteddownbythebigdiamond.
Ruggedowasnowinamorecontentedframeofmind.
Onebyonehehadmettheinvadersandeasilycapturedthem.
ThedreadedLoveMagnetwasindeedinShaggy’spocket,onlyafewfeetawayfromtheKing,butShaggywaspowerlesstoshowitandunlessRuggedo’seyesbeheldthetalismanitcouldnotaffecthim.
AsforBetsyBobbinandhermule,hebelievedKalikohadplacedthemintheSlimyCave,whileAnnandherofficershethoughtsafelyimprisonedinthepit.
RuggedohadnofearofFilesorOzga,buttobeonthesafesidehehadorderedgoldenhandcuffsplacedupontheirwrists.
Thesedidnotcausethemanygreatannoyancebutpreventedthemfrommakinganattack,hadtheybeeninclinedtodoso.
TheNomeKing,thinkinghimselfwhollymasterofthesituation,waslaughingandjeeringathisprisonerswhenPolychrome,exquisitelybeautifulanddancinglikearayoflight,enteredthecavern.
“Oho!”criedtheKing;“aRainbowunderground,eh?”
andthenhestaredhardatPolychrome,andstillharder,andthenhesatupandpulledthewrinklesoutofhisrobeandarrangedhiswhiskers.
“Onmyword,”saidhe,“youareaverycaptivatingcreature;moreover,Iperceiveyouareafairy.”
“IamPolychrome,theRainbow’sDaughter,”shesaidproudly.
“Well,”repliedRuggedo,“Ilikeyou.TheothersIhate.Ihateeverybody—butyou!
Wouldn’tyouliketolivealwaysinthisbeautifulcavern,Polychrome?See!
ThejewelsthatstudthewallshaveeverytintandcolorofyourRainbow—andtheyarenotsoelusive.
I’llhavefreshdewdropsgatheredforyourfeastingeverydayandyoushallbeQueenofallmynomesandpullKaliko’snosewheneveryoulike.”
“No,thankyou,”laughedPolychrome.“Myhomeisinthesky,andI’monlyonavisittothissolid,sordidearth.
Buttellme,Ruggedo,whymyfriendshavebeenwoundwithcordsandboundwithchains?”
“Theythreatenedme,”answeredRuggedo.“ThefoolsdidnotknowhowpowerfulIam.”
“Then,sincetheyarenowhelpless,whynotreleasethemandsendthembacktotheearth’ssurface?”
“BecauseIhate‘emandmeantomake‘emsufferfortheirinvasion.
ButI’llmakeabargainwithyou,sweetPolly.
RemainhereandlivewithmeandI’llsetallthesepeoplefree.
Youshallbemydaughterormywifeormyauntorgrandmother—whicheveryoulike—onlystayheretobrightenmygloomykingdomandmakemehappy!”
Polychromelookedathimwonderingly.ThensheturnedtoShaggyandasked:
“Areyousurehehasn’tseentheLoveMagnet?”
“I’mpositive,”answeredShaggy.“ButyouseemtobesomethingofaLoveMagnetyourself,Polychrome.”
ShelaughedagainandsaidtoRuggedo:“NoteventorescuemyfriendswouldIliveinyourkingdom.NorcouldIendureforlongthesocietyofsuchawickedmonsterasyou.”
“Youforget,”retortedtheKing,scowlingdarkly,“thatyoualsoareinmypower.”
“Notso,Ruggedo.TheRainbow’sDaughterisbeyondthereachofyourspiteormalice.”
“Seizeher!”suddenlyshoutedtheKing,andGeneralGuphsprangforwardtoobey.
Polychromestoodquitestill,yetwhenGuphattemptedtoclutchherhishandsmetinair,andnowtheRainbow’sDaughterwasinanotherpartoftheroom,assmilingandcomposedasbefore.
SeveraltimesGuphendeavoredtocaptureherandRuggedoevencamedownfromhisthronetoassisthisGeneral;butnevercouldtheylayhandsuponthelovelyskyfairy,whoflittedhereandtherewiththeswiftnessoflightandconstantlydefiedthemwithhermerrylaughterassheevadedtheirefforts.
SoafteratimetheyabandonedthechaseandRuggedoreturnedtohisthroneandwipedtheperspirationfromhisfacewithafinely-wovenhandkerchiefofcloth-of-gold.
“Well,”saidPolychrome,“whatdoyouintendtodonow?”
“I’mgoingtohavesomefun,torepaymeforallmybother,”repliedtheNomeKing.ThenhesaidtoKaliko:“Summontheexecutioners.”
Kalikoatoncewithdrewandpresentlyreturnedwithascoreofnomes,allofwhomwerenearlyasevillookingastheirhatedmaster.
Theyboregreatgoldenpincers,andprodsofsilver,andclampsandchainsandvariouswicked-lookinginstruments,allmadeofpreciousmetalsandsetwithdiamondsandrubies.
“Now,Pang,”saidRuggedo,addressingtheleaderoftheexecutioners,“fetchtheArmyofOogabooandtheirQueenfromthepitandtorturethemhereinmypresence—aswellasinthepresenceoftheirfriends.Itwillbegreatsport.”
“IhearYourMajesty,andIobeyYourMajesty,”answeredPang,andwentwithhisnomesintothepassage.InafewminuteshereturnedandbowedtoRuggedo.
“They’reallgone,”saidhe.
“Gone!”exclaimedtheNomeKing.“Gonewhere?”
“Theyleftnoaddress,YourMajesty;buttheyarenotinthepit.”
“Picksandpuddles!”roaredtheKing;“whotookthecoveroff?”
“Noone,”saidPang.“Thecoverwasthere,buttheprisonerswerenotunderit.”
“Inthatcase,”snarledtheKing,tryingtocontrolhisdisappointment,“gototheSlimyCaveandfetchhitherthegirlandthedonkey.
AndwhilewearetorturingthemKalikomusttakeahundrednomesandsearchfortheescapedprisoners—theQueenofOogabooandherofficers.
Ifhedoesnotfindthem,IwilltortureKaliko.”
Kalikowentawaylookingsadanddisturbed,forheknewtheKingwascruelandunjustenoughtocarryoutthisthreat.
Pangandtheexecutionersalsowentaway,inanotherdirection,butwhentheycamebackBetsyBobbinwasnotwiththem,norwasHank.
“ThereisnooneintheSlimyCave,YourMajesty,”reportedPang.
“Jumpingjellycakes!”screamedtheKing.
“Anotherescape?Areyousureyoufoundtherightcave?”
“ThereisbutoneSlimyCave,andthereisnooneinit,”returnedPangpositively.
Ruggedowasbeginningtobealarmedaswellasangry.However,thesedisappointmentsbutmadehimthemorevindictiveandhecastanevillookattheotherprisonersandsaid:
“Nevermindthegirlandthedonkey.Herearefour,atleast,whocannotescapemyvengeance.
Letmesee;IbelieveI’llchangemymindaboutTik-Tok.
Havethegoldcrucibleheatedtoawhite,seethingheat,andthenwe’lldumpthecoppermanintoitandmelthimup.”
“But,YourMajesty,”protestedKaliko,whohadreturnedtotheroomaftersendingahundrednomestosearchfortheOogaboopeople,“youmustrememberthatTik-Tokisaverycuriousandinterestingmachine.
Itwouldbeashametodeprivetheworldofsuchaclevercontrivance.”
“Sayanotherword,andyou’llgointothefurnacewithhim!”roaredtheKing.
“I’mgettingtiredofyou,Kaliko,andthefirstthingyouknowI’llturnyouintoapotatoandmakeSaratoga-chipsofyou!
Thenexttoconsider,”headdedmoremildly,“istheShaggyMan.
AsheownstheLoveMagnet,IthinkI’lltransformhimintoadove,andthenwecanpracticeshootingathimwithTik-Tok’sgun.
Now,thisisaveryinterestingceremonyandIbegyoualltowatchmecloselyandseethatI’venothingupmysleeve.”
HecameoutofhisthronetostandbeforetheShaggyMan,andthenhewavedhishands,palmsdownward,insevensemicirclesoverhisvictim’shead,sayinginalowbutcleartoneofvoicethemagicwugwa:
”Adi,edi,idi,odi,udi,oo-i-oo!
Idu,ido,idi,ide,ida,woo!”
Theeffectofthiswell-knownsorcerywasinstantaneous.
InsteadoftheShaggyMan,aprettydovelayflutteringuponthefloor,itswingsconfinedbytinycordswoundaroundthem.
RuggedogaveanordertoPang,whocutthecordswithapairofscissors.
Beingfreed,thedovequicklyflewupwardandalightedontheshoulderoftheRosePrincess,whostrokedittenderly.
“Verygood!Verygood!”criedRuggedo,rubbinghishandsgleefullytogether.“Oneenemyisoutofmyway,andnowfortheothers.”
(Perhapsmyreadersshouldbewarnednottoattempttheabovetransformation;for,althoughtheexactmagicalformulahasbeendescribed,itisunlawfulinallcivilizedcountriesforanyonetotransformapersonintoadovebymutteringthewordsRuggedoused.
TherewerenolawstopreventtheNomeKingfromperformingthistransformation,butifitshouldbeattemptedinanyothercountry,andthemagicworked,themagicianwouldbeseverelypunished.)
WhenPolychromesawShaggyMantransformedintoadoveandrealizedthatRuggedowasaboutdosomethingasdreadfultothePrincessandFiles,andthatTik-Tokwouldsoonbemeltedinacrucible,sheturnedandranfromthecavern,throughthepassageandbacktotheplacewhereQuoxlayasleep.
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