English
“Well,”saidQueenAnn,whenallwereagainseatedinKaliko’sroyalcavern,“Iwonderwhatweshalldonext.
IfIcouldfindmywaybacktoOogabooI’dtakemyarmyhomeatonce,forI’msickandtiredofthesedreadfulhardships.”
“Don’tyouwanttoconquertheworld?”askedBetsy.
“No;I’vechangedmymindaboutthat,”admittedtheQueen.
“TheworldistoobigforonepersontoconquerandIwashappierwithmyownpeopleinOogaboo.
Iwish—Oh,howearnestlyIwish—thatIwasbacktherethisminute!”
“SodoI!”yelledeveryofficerinaferventtone.
Now,itistimeforthereadertoknowthatinthefar-awayLandofOzthelovelyRuler,Ozma,hadbeenfollowingtheadventuresofherShaggyMan,andTik-Tok,andalltheotherstheyhadmet.
DaybydayOzma,withthewonderfulWizardofOzseatedbesideher,hadgazeduponaMagicPictureinaradiumframe,whichoccupiedonesideoftheRuler’scozyboudoirinthepalaceoftheEmeraldCity.
ThesingularthingaboutthisMagicPicturewasthatitshowedwhateversceneOzmawishedtosee,withthefiguresallinmotion,justasitwastakingplace.
SoOzmaandtheWizardhadwatchedeveryactionoftheadventurersfromthetimeShaggyhadmetshipwreckedBetsyandHankintheRoseKingdom,atwhichtimetheRosePrincess,adistantcousinofOzma,hadbeenexiledbyherheartlesssubjects.
WhenAnnandherpeoplesoearnestlywishedtoreturntoOogaboo,OzmawassorryforthemandrememberedthatOogaboowasacorneroftheLandofOz.Sheturnedtoherattendantandasked:
“Cannotyourmagictaketheseunhappypeopletotheiroldhome,Wizard?”
“Itcan,YourHighness,”repliedthelittleWizard.
“IthinkthepoorQueenhassufferedenoughinhermisguidedefforttoconquertheworld,”saidOzma,smilingattheabsurdityoftheundertaking,“sonodoubtshewillhereafterbecontentedinherownlittleKingdom.
Pleasesendherthere,Wizard,andwithhertheofficersandFiles.”
“HowabouttheRosePrincess?”askedtheWizard.
“SendhertoOogaboowithFiles,”answeredOzma.“TheyhavebecomesuchgoodfriendsthatIamsureitwouldmakethemunhappytoseparatethem.”
“Verywell,”saidtheWizard,andwithoutanyfussormysterywhateverheperformedamagicalritethatwassimpleandeffective.
ThereforethoseseatedintheNomeKing’scavernwerebothstartledandamazedwhenallthepeopleofOogaboosuddenlydisappearedfromtheroom,andwiththemtheRosePrincess.
Atfirsttheycouldnotunderstanditatall;butpresentlyShaggysuspectedthetruth,andbelievingthatOzmawasnowtakinganinterestinthepartyhedrewfromhispocketatinyinstrument,whichheplacedagainsthisear.
Ozma,observingthisactioninherMagicPicture,atoncecaughtupasimilarinstrumentfromatablebesideherandheldittoherownear.
Thetwoinstrumentsrecordedthesamedelicatevibrationsofsoundandformedawirelesstelephone,aninventionoftheWizard.
Thoseseparatedbyanydistancewerethusenabledtoconversetogetherwithperfecteaseandwithoutanywireconnection.
“Doyouhearme,ShaggyMan?”askedOzma.
“Yes,YourHighness,”hereplied.
“IhavesentthepeopleofOogaboobacktotheirownlittlevalley,”announcedtheRulerofOz;“sodonotworryovertheirdisappearance.”
“Thatwasverykindofyou,”saidShaggy.
“ButYourHighnessmustpermitmetoreportthatmyownmissionhereisnowended.
Ihavefoundmylostbrother,andheisnowbesideme,freedfromtheenchantmentofugliness,whichRuggedocastuponhim.
Tik-Tokhasservedmeandmycomradesfaithfully,asyourequestedhimtodo,andIhopeyouwillnowtransporttheClockworkManbacktoyourfairylandofOz.”
“Iwilldothat,”repliedOzma.“Buthowaboutyourself,Shaggy?”
“IhavebeenveryhappyinOz,”hesaid,“butmydutytoothersforcesmetoexilemyselffromthatdelightfulland.
Imusttakecareofmynew-foundbrother,foronething,andIhaveanewcomradeinadearlittlegirlnamedBetsyBobbin,whohasnohometogoto,andnootherfriendsbutmeandasmalldonkeynamedHank.
IhavepromisedBetsynevertodesertheraslongassheneedsafriend,andsoImustgiveupthedelightsoftheLandofOzforever.”
Hesaidthiswithasighofregret,andOzmamadenoreplybutlaidthetinyinstrumentonhertable,thuscuttingoffallfurthercommunicationwiththeShaggyMan.
ButthelovelyRulerofOzstillwatchedhermagicpicture,withathoughtfulexpressionuponherface,andthelittleWizardofOzwatchedOzmaandsmiledsoftlytohimself.
InthecavernoftheNomeKingShaggyreplacedthewirelesstelephoneinhispocketandturningtoBetsysaidinascheerfulavoiceashecouldmuster:
“Well,littlecomrade,whatshallwedonext?”
“Idon’tknow,I’msure,”sheansweredwithapuzzledface.
“I’mkindofsorryouradventuresareover,forIenjoyedthem,andnowthatQueenAnnandherpeoplearegone,andPolychromeisgone,and—dearme!—where’sTik-Tok,Shaggy?”
“Healsohasdisappeared,”saidShaggy,lookingaroundthecavernandnoddingwisely.“BythistimeheisinOzma’spalaceintheLandofOz,whichishishome.”
“Isn’tityourhome,too?”askedBetsy.
“Itusedtobe,mydear;butnowmyhomeiswhereveryouandmybrotherare.Wearewanderers,youknow,butifwesticktogetherIamsureweshallhaveagoodtime.”
“Then,”saidthegirl,“letusgetoutofthisstuffy,undergroundcavernandgoinsearchofnewadventures.I’msureithasstoppedraining.”
“I’mready,”saidShaggy,andthentheybadegood-byetoKingKaliko,andthankedhimforhisassistance,andwentouttothemouthofthepassage.
Theskywasnowclearandabrilliantblueincolor;thesunshonebrightlyandeventhisrugged,rockycountryseemeddelightfulaftertheirconfinementunderground.
Therewerebutfourofthemnow—BetsyandHank,andShaggyandhisbrother—andthelittlepartymadetheirwaydownthemountainandfollowedafaintpaththatledtowardthesouthwest.
DuringthistimeOzmahadbeenholdingaconferencewiththeWizard,andlaterwithTik-Tok,whomthemagicoftheWizardhadquicklytransportedtoOzma’spalace.
Tik-TokhadonlywordsofpraiseforBetsyBobbin,“who,”hesaid,“isal-mostasniceasDor-o-thyher-self.”
“LetussendforDorothy,”saidOzma,andsummoningherfavoritemaid,whowasnamedJelliaJamb,sheaskedhertorequestPrincessDorothytoattendheratonce.
SoafewmomentslaterDorothyenteredOzma’sroomandgreetedherandtheWizardandTik-Tokwiththesamegentlesmileandsimplemannerthathadwonforthelittlegirltheloveofeveryoneshemet.
“Didyouwanttoseeme,Ozma?”sheasked.
“Yes,dear.Iampuzzledhowtoact,andIwantyouradvice.”
“Idon’tb’lieveit’sworthmuch,”repliedDorothy,“butI’lldothebestIcan.Whatisitallabout,Ozma?”
“Youallknow,”saidthegirlRuler,addressingherthreefriends,“whataseriousthingitistoadmitanymortalsintothisfairylandofOz.
ItistrueIhaveinvitedseveralmortalstomaketheirhomehere,andallofthemhaveprovedtrueandloyalsubjects.
Indeed,nooneofyouthreewasanativeofOz.
DorothyandtheWizardcameherefromtheUnitedStates,andTik-TokcamefromtheLandofEv.Butofcourseheisnotamortal.
ShaggyisanotherAmerican,andheisthecauseofallmyworry,forourdearShaggywillnotreturnhereanddesertthenewfriendshehasfoundinhisrecentadventures,becausehebelievestheyneedhisservices.”
“ShaggyManwasalwayskind-hearted,”remarkedDorothy.“Butwhoarethesenewfriendshehasfound?”
“Oneishisbrother,whoformanyyearshasbeenaprisoneroftheNomeKing,ouroldenemyRuggedo.
Thisbrotherseemsakindly,honestfellow,buthehasdonenothingtoentitlehimtoahomeintheLandofOz.”
“Whoelse?”askedDorothy.
“IhavetoldyouaboutBetsyBobbin,thelittlegirlwhowasshipwrecked—inmuchthesamewayyouoncewere—andhassincebeenfollowingtheShaggyManinhissearchforhislostbrother.Yourememberher,doyounot?”
“Oh,yes!”exclaimedDorothy.“I’veoftenwatchedherandHankintheMagicPicture,youknow.She’sadearlittlegirl,andoldHankisadarling!Wherearetheynow?”
“Lookandsee,”repliedOzmawithasmileatherfriend’senthusiasm.
DorothyturnedtothePicture,whichshowedBetsyandHank,withShaggyandhisbrother,trudgingalongtherockypathsofabarrencountry.
“Seemstome,”shesaid,musingly,“thatthey’reagoodwayfromanyplacetosleep,oranynicethingstoeat.”
“Youareright,”saidTik-Tok.“Ihavebeeninthatcoun-try,anditisawil-der-ness.”
“Itisthecountryofthenomes,”explainedtheWizard,“whoaresomischievousthatnoonecarestolivenearthem.
I’mafraidShaggyandhisfriendswillenduremanyhardshipsbeforetheygetoutofthatrockyplace,unless—”
HeturnedtoOzmaandsmiled.
“UnlessIaskyoutotransportthemallhere?”sheasked.
“Yes,yourHighness.”
“Couldyourmagicdothat?”inquiredDorothy.
“Ithinkso,”saidtheWizard.
“Well,”saidDorothy,“asfarasBetsyandHankareconcerned,I’dliketohavethemhereinOz.
Itwouldbesuchfuntohaveagirlplaymateofmyownage,yousee.AndHankissuchadearlittlemule!”
Ozmalaughedatthewistfulexpressioninthegirl’seyes,andthenshedrewDorothytoherandkissedher.
“AmInotyourfriendandplaymate?”sheasked.
Dorothyflushed.
“YouknowhowdearlyIloveyou,Ozma!”shecried.“Butyou’resobusyrulingallthisLandofOzthatwecan’talwaysbetogether.”
“Iknow,dear.Myfirstdutyistomysubjects,andIthinkitwouldbeadelighttousalltohaveBetsywithus.
There’saprettysuiteofroomsjustoppositeyourownwhereshecanlive,andI’llbuildagoldenstallforHankinthestablewheretheSawhorselives.
Thenwe’llintroducethemuletotheCowardlyLionandtheHungryTiger,andI’msuretheywillsoonbecomefirmfriends.
ButIcannotverywelladmitBetsyandHankintoOzunlessIalsoadmitShaggy’sbrother.”
“And,unlessyouadmitShaggy’sbrother,youwillkeepoutpoorShaggy,whomweareallveryfondof,”saidtheWizard.
“Well,whynotad-mithim?”demandedTik-Tok.
“TheLandofOzisnotarefugeforallmortalsindistress,”explainedOzma.“IdonotwishtobeunkindtoShaggyMan,buthisbrotherhasnoclaimonme.”
“TheLandofOzisn’tcrowded,”suggestedDorothy.
“ThenyouadvisemetoadmitShaggy’sbrother?”inquiredOzma.
“Well,wecan’taffordtoloseourShaggyMan,canwe?”
“No,indeed!”returnedOzma.“Whatdoyousay,Wizard?”
“I’mgettingmymagicreadytotransportthemall.”
“Andyou,Tik-Tok?”
“Shag-gy’sbroth-erisagoodfel-low,andwecan’tspareShag-gy.”
“So,then;thequestionissettled,”decidedOzma.“Performyourmagic,Wizard!”
Hedidso,placingasilverplateuponasmallstandardandpouringupontheplateasmallquantityofpinkpowderwhichwascontainedinacrystalvial.
ThenhemutteredaratherdifficultincantationwhichthesorceressGlindatheGoodhadtaughthim,anditallendedinapuffofperfumedsmokefromthesilverplate.
ThissmokewassopungentthatitmadebothOzmaandDorothyrubtheireyesforamoment.
“Youmustpardonthesedisagreeablefumes,”saidtheWizard.“Iassureyouthesmokeisaverynecessarypartofmywizardry.”
“Look!”criedDorothy,pointingtotheMagicPicture;“they’regone!Allofthemaregone.”
Indeed,thepicturenowshowedthesamerockylandscapeasbefore,butthethreepeopleandthemulehaddisappearedfromit.
“Theyaregone,”saidtheWizard,polishingthesilverplateandwrappingitinafinecloth,“becausetheyarehere.”
AtthatmomentJelliaJambenteredtheroom.
“YourHighness,”shesaidtoOzma,“theShaggyManandanothermanareinthewaitingroomandasktopaytheirrespectstoyou.Shaggyiscryinglikeababy,buthesaystheyaretearsofjoy.”
“Sendthemhereatonce,Jellia!”commandedOzma.
“Also,”continuedthemaid,“agirlandasmall-sizedmulehavemysteriouslyarrived,buttheydon’tseemtoknowwheretheyareorhowtheycamehere.ShallIsendthemhere,too?”
“Oh,no!”exclaimedDorothy,eagerlyjumpingupfromherchair;“I’llgotomeetBetsymyself,forshe’llfeelawfulstrangeinthisbigpalace.”
Andsherandownthestairstwoatatimetogreethernewfriend,BetsyBobbin.
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