Classic Audiobook Collection - The Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson ~ Full Audiobook [fantasy]

Episode Date: May 9, 2023

The Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson audiobook. Genre: fantasy Young King Randy of Regalia is doing his best to act royal, but the duties of a crown can feel like a cage. So when Kabumpo, the Elegant Elephant of Pumperdink, arrives with a plan for travel and excitement, Randy cannot resist. Their destination is the glittering Land of Ev, where their friend Jinnicky the Red Jinn should be living in comfort and splendor. But the road to Ev rarely stays simple in the Oz universe. Along the way, Randy and Kabumpo encounter Planetty, a mysterious silver princess from Anuther Planet, and her astonishing companion Thun, a colt with a dangerous talent for breathing fire. When the travelers finally reach Jinnicky's palace, the welcome they expect is nowhere to be found: Jinnicky has been overthrown and trapped by enchantment, and the court has fallen into the hands of someone who cannot be trusted. To set things right, Randy and his unlikely allies must navigate strange customs, tricky magic, and their own doubts, discovering what it really means to lead when the stakes are bigger than a throne. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:13:17) Chapter 02 (00:29:20) Chapter 03 (00:42:42) Chapter 04 (00:53:42) Chapter 05 (01:11:33) Chapter 06 (01:27:15) Chapter 07 (01:42:46) Chapter 08 (01:59:58) Chapter 09 (02:16:34) Chapter 10 (02:30:54) Chapter 11 (02:45:57) Chapter 12 (03:01:10) Chapter 13 (03:08:28) Chapter 14 (03:25:43) Chapter 15 (03:38:51) Chapter 16 (03:49:11) Chapter 17 (04:00:40) Chapter 18 (04:05:18) Chapter 19 (04:16:47) Chapter 20 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. Chapter 1 The King Rebels In a far-away northwestern corner of the Gilligan country of Oz lies the rugged little kingdom of Regalia, and in an airy and elegant castle, set high on the tallest mountain, lives Randy its brave young king. When the regalians are not busy celebrating one of their 77 national holidays.

They are busy tending their flocks of goats or looking after the vines that cover every mountain and hill, producing the largest and most luscious grapes in Oz. These proud and independent mountain folk have much to recommend them, and if they consider themselves superior to any and all of the other natives of Oz, we must not blame them too much. Perhaps the sharp, clear air and high altitude in which they live is responsible for their top lofty attitude. Randy, it must be confessed, found the stiff and unbending manner of his subjects and their correct and formal behavior on all occasions, stuffy in the extreme, and of all the stuffy occasions he had to endure, their weekly court reception was the stuffiest.

Just as I started this story, he was winding up another of these royal and boring affairs. Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Randywell! King Handywell of Brandingburg and Bumpadoo! Boom! Boom!!! At each crash of the drums, the young king winced and shuddered. Then, pulling himself together, he not. nodded resignedly to his richly attired courtiers and subjects who were retiring backwards from the royal presence. As the last bowing figure swished through the double doors, Randy gave a huge sigh and groan. This was his three hundred and tenth reception since ascending the throne.

A head stretched hundreds more beside the daily courts where he acted as presiding judge to settle all disputes of the realm, countless reviewings of troops, inspections of model goat farms, and attendance at numerous celebrations for national heroes of regalia. Oh, being a king is awful, choked the youthful monarch,

loosening his regal cape and letting it fall unheeded to the floor. Awful. Will it always be like this, uncle? Like what? His uncle, the Grand Duke Hootifu, who was still inclining his head mechanically in the direction of the door, caught himself abruptly in the middle of a bow. Oh, all this silly standing round and being bowed at, this hail, hail and way for his majesty stuff.

Galloping gallopers, uncle, I'd like to step up by myself occasionally, without twenty footmen springing to open doors, and fifty pages to—and fifty pages, tooting on their blasted trumpets. Why, I cannot even cross the courtyard that a dozen guardsmen do not fall in behind me. Flouncing over to the window, Randy stared out over the royal terrace. Even the goats on the mountain have more fun than I do, he observed bitterly. They can run, jump, climb, and even but one another. While I— Randy let his arms fall heavily at his sides.

I have not even anyone to fight with. If just once somebody would punch me in the nose instead of bowing, Randy clenched and unclenched his fists. Oh, so that's what you want? Looking quizzically at his young nephew, Uncle Hu Chafoo crossed to the bell-rope and gave it a savage tug. As Randy's personal servant and valet appeared to answer, the ring, he spoke sharply.

Dawkins! Kindly hit his majesty in the nose. The nose? Oh, but your lordship, I couldn't do a thing like that. It isn't right, nor fitting, nor— I said hit him in the nose, commanded Uncle Hucifu, advancing grimly upon the terrified valet. Yes, yes, like this. Bringing up his fist, Randy made such a splendid connection with the valet's nose.

Dawkins toppled over backwards. Dancing from one foot to the other as the outraged servant sprang to his feet, Randy prepared to defend himself. But with his hand clapped to his nose, Dawking was retiring rapidly. "'Thank you,' he muttered in a strangled voice. "'Thank you very much.' "'Did you hear you hear him?

"'He said, thank you,' screamed Randy, as Dawkins disappeared with an agitated bow. "'Oh, this is too much. I wish I were back with Nandy Wogg and Tripodalia, or anywhere but here, doing anything but this.' "'No, no, don't take things so hard,' begged his uncle, patting him kindly on the shoulder. "'Hard,' Randy glared at the old Nassau. nobleman. I can take things hard, uncle, but I cannot take them soft. I'll never forgive my father for getting me into this. Never. Randy's father, former king of Regalia, tiring of a royal life and routine, had retired to a distant cave to live the life of a hermit. And Randy,

after traveling all over Oz to fulfill the seven difficult tests required of a Regalian ruler, has succeeded to the throne. "'You should not speak like that of your royal parent,' chided Uncle Hu Jafu, tapping his spectacles absently against his teeth. "'For you are very much like him, my boy, very much like him. "'Hum, hum, hum, hum. "'Uncle Huci Fu cleared his throat thoughtfully. "'What you need is a change, a new interest.

"'Ah, I have it. You must marry, my lad. You must marry. Some pretty little princess are rich young queen, and then everything will be punch inubius. Is being married anything like being a king? inquired Randy suspiciously. Oh, no, no indeed, quite the reverse.

The eyes of the old duke, who had once been married grew glazed and pensive. "'Once you are married, you will feel less like a king every day,' he promised solemnly. "'And the arguments alone will keep you occupied for hours.' Uncle Hu Chifu raised both shoulders and eyebrows. "'Wait, I'll just go consult the wise men about a proper princess for you.' "'No, no, I do not wish to be married,' announced Randy, stamping his son. foot. I'll not marry for years, he declared stubbornly. Then, as loud outcries and tremendous thumps interrupted them, he hurried over to an open window,

just in time to meet a large rock that came crashing through the amethyst pain. "'Look out!' blustered Uncle Hu Juffoo, jerking Randy to his feet, for the rock had completely bowled him over. "'Well, I see you have your wretched. wish. How's that for a knock in the nose, my lad? Not only the nose, but also the beginning of a beautiful black eye. "'Have I, really?' racing over to a mirror. Randy proudly examined his injured orb. "'Oh, uncle, isn't this fun? Who did it? What's up, do you suppose? A revolution?' Hurrying back to the window, Randy recklessly thrust out his head to stare down into the

courtyard. Kayub, the gatekeeper, had his shoulder braced against the gold-studded doors in the castle wall, but even so, the doors were bulging and creaking from the tremendous blows struck from the other side. "'Open in the name of the law!' boomed a tremendous voice. "'Thump! Thumb! thump, cabang! in the name of a prince of the realm.

Open this door on you unmanally scuppernog." "'No, no, stay where you are,' panted Cahob, waving desperately with one arm for the guards to come help him. Stay where you are, or go to the rear entrance. Who do you think you are, hammering on the doors of his majesty's castle?' "'I don't think, I know,' raged the voice from the other side of the wall. I am a prince of Pumperdink, you unspeakable clod. Open this door before I break it down.

And after even more furious thumps, another shower of rocks came flying over the wall. Great Gillikins! I think, I believe. Why, it is! Cahub! Open the door! It is a prince! shouted Randy, using both hands as a megaphone. "'Tis nothing of the sort,' grunted the gatekeeper obstinately.

"'I looked through me little grilve but a moment ago, and it's no prince at all but a parade. A parade of one elephant, if you please, and when I orders him to the rear entrance, he ups with his trunk and flings rocks over our wall.' "'But this elephant is a prince,' insisted Randy, banging on the window ledge. "'Besides, he's a great friend of mine.' "'Open the door, fool,' directed Uncle Huchifu, leaning so far out of the window his crown fell to the paving-stones. "'The king has spoken.

"'Admit this elephant at once, at once!' "'And about time!' fumed an indignant voice, "'as Cahub reluctantly drew the bolts, "'and swinging wide the doors stepped back "'to let a magnificently comparisoned elephant swing through. "'A fine welcome, this is, I must say, for the elegant elephant of Oz. Out of my way, what?'

Picking Keab up in his trunk, the visitor jammed him down hard into a golden trash barrel, trumpeted fiercely at the double line of guards, who had instantly sprung to attention, and went swaying across the courtyard. Now, nowhere but in Oz could an elephant talk, much less come hammering on the doors of a royal castle. But in Oz, as we very well know, animals talk and act as sensibly as people, which makes Oz about ten times as exciting as any other country on the map. But while I've been explaining all this, Randy had run down the steps and was halfway across the courtyard. "'Kabompo! Kabumpo! Is it really you? Oh, at last! At last you are here!'

Impatiently waving aside the guards. Randy led his mammoth and still muttering guest into the palace. "'Kabompo, is it?' sniffed Kayub, drinking himself with great difficulty out of the trash barrel. "'Such goings-on! Well, all I say!' The gatekeeper peered carefully over his shoulder to see that the elephant was safely inside the castle. Then, raising his arm for the benefit of the staring guards, he cried fiercely. All I can say is, just let him show his snoot around here again, and I'll come bump him down the mountain.

End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 of The Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 2 The Elegant Elephant of Oz Fortunately the doors of Randy's castle were high and wide, and the room so large and spacious, even a guest as large as this elephant could quite easily be accommodated. Still irritated by the gatekeeper's insolence, Kabumpo followed the young ruler to the throne room, where he sank stiffly.

softly to his haunches and waited in outraged silence for Randy to speak. Randy, however, was so surprised and happy to see his old friend and comrade he could not utter a word. But the elegant elephant could not long withstand the honest delight and affection beaming from the young king's eyes, and under that kindly glow his wrath melted away like fog in the sunshine. Oh, well, he rumbled testily. How do I look?" "'Elegant,' breathed Randy, stepping back to have a better view.

Elegant as ever. You've worn your best robe and jewels, haven't you?' "'Always wear my best when I call on a king,' said Cabompo, smoothing down his embroidered collar complacently with his trunk. "'And I believe you've grown a foot,' went on Randy, standing on tiptoe. to pat Gabonpo on the shoulder. "'A foot!' roared the elegant elephant, throwing back his head. "'Oh, ho, come now.

I couldn't have grown a foot without noticing it. And I still have but four. Here, count them. Say, who in hay bales gave you that black eye?' "'You did!' Randy fairly sputtered with mirth at Cabompo's discomfited expression. I was just wishing someone would hit me in the nose when along came that rock, and now look at me.

Yes, put in Uncle Huachu, regarding Kabumpo severely through his monocle. Now look at him. Well, why didn't you tell that wart of a doorkeeper I was expected? demanded Kabumpo explosively. The king of Regalia does not hold conversation with his doorkeeper, explained Randy's uncle, giving the elegant elephant a very sour look.

Oh, he doesn't! Kabumpo lurched grandly to his feet. Well, it's time somebody told him about the elegant elephant of Oz, and how he should be received and welcomed. Let me tell you, sir, trumpets blow when I come and go in Pumberdink. Then why did you ever leave there? inquired the Duke coldly. "'Oh, uncle, don't you remember?

We were to review the Purple Gordeth Five. You go,' urged Randy, fearful lest the temporary old Duke would still further insult the even more temporary old elephant. Honestly, I feel a cold coming on. Randy coughed plaintively at the same time winking at Cabompo. "'Very well, I'll go.' agreed his uncle stiffly. "'But do not forget, there is a dinner for the grape-growers at seven,

a concert for the goat-herdsman at eight, maneuvers of our Highland Guards and the Royal Barracks at nine, and—' "'Yes, yes, all right!' Randy fairly pushed his royal relative toward the door. "'An ancient pest, if I ever saw one,' grumbled Cabompo, as the Grand Duke disappeared with a very grim expression. Great gooseberries. Do we have to do all those dumb things? Why, it's six years since I've seen you, Randy, and I kind of thought we'd have a cozy time all to ourselves.

I never have any time to myself, sighed the young monarch wistfully. I do nothing but lay cornerstones and raise flags and stand around at royal courts and receptions. Everybody bows and bows and bows. Why, it's got so I even bow to myself when I look in the glass. And now, Randy raised his arms indictantly, now Uncle Huchifu says I must marry. "'Marry,' trumpeted Kabumpo, twinkling his eyes angrily. What nonsense! Why, you are nowhere near old enough to marry. You were only about ten when I met you, and that makes you sixteen now. though I must say you don't look it. Oh, no one in Oz looks his age, grinned Randy.

And you know I'd been ten for about four years before I knew you, Camompo, so that makes me twenty or so, doesn't it? I don't care what it makes you, rumbled Cabompo. It makes me mad. And to think I actually helped get you into all this boring business, my ears and trunkingling. it's up to me to get you out of it. How? demanded Randy, folding his arms and leaning despondently against the mantle.

How does one stop being a king, Kabumpo? Why, by stopping, announced the elegant elephant, spreading his ears to their fullest extent, by taking a vacation, my fine young sprig, by departing and going hints for a suitable season. Do you suppose I came all the way from Pupperdake to hear goat herds tootling on bells and Highlanders tramping round of barracks? I came to see you, my boy, and nobody else. Gabonpo paused to blow his trunk explosively on a violet silk handkerchief. And after that I thought we'd go and visit the Red Jen. Oh, Cabompo, could we?

Randy's face brightened, and then quickly fell. "'I don't believe Uncle Hu Chafu will let me go,' he finished dolefully. "'A king does not ask whether or not he may go. He goes,' stated the elegant elephant, beginning to sway like a ship under full sail. But to avoid all arguments, we'll not start till later. Could you be ready by midnight, young one?' "'Oh, I'm ready now,' declared Randy, picking up his cloak from the floor and snatching a sword from its bracket on the wall.

"'Why did you ever wait so long, Kabumpo? You promised to visit me six months after I was crowned.' "'Well, you know how it is at court.' The elegant elephant sighed and settled back on his haunches again. "'If it isn't one thing, it's another. But here I am at last, so. order up your dinner and a few bales of hay and a barrel of cider for me. I crave rest and refreshment. And what about the grape growers, the goat herds and Highlanders, worried Randy? Oh, them! exclaimed Cabompo inelegantly.

Here. Seizing a pin from the royal desk, he scribbled a defiant message on a handy piece of parchment. No admittance under extreme penalty of the law. Do not disturb. By special order of his majesty, King Randywell, Handywell of Brandenburg and Bompadu. See, I remembered all your names, and I've used them all. Opening the door with his trunk, Kabumpo impaled the notice on the knob, then quietly closed the door and turned the key in the lock.

And only once did they open it, and then to admit ten flustered footmen with Randy's dinner and cabumpo cider and hay. To imperious raps, taps, and numerous notes thrust under the door by the young king's agitated uncle, they paid no attention whatever. They were too busy talking over old times and the exciting days when they had journeyed all over Oz, and with the help of Geniki, the liver-red gin, and with the help of Gen. Save the royal family of Pumperdink from the witch of Follensby Forest. Pumperdink, as most of you know, is in the north central part of the Gilligan country of Oz,

and ruled by King Pompus and Queen Posi. Their son, Prince Pompadour, has much to say about affairs in that kingdom, but it is to Kabumpo, his elegant elephant, that Pompus turned oftenest for counsel and comfort. Given to the king by a celebrated blue emperor, Kabumpo has proved himself so wise and sagacious. Pompos depends on him for almost everything. It is Kabompo who advises his majesty when to have his hair cut and put aside his woolen underwear, when to go to the dentist, when to turn in his old four-horse chariot for a

twelve-horse model, when to save money, when to spend it. to get on with neighboring kings, and how to get on without them. In fact, so heavy are the duties and responsibilities of this remarkable elephant. It's a wonder even after six years he managed this visit to Randy." Randy's first meeting with Kabumpo had been more or less by chance, sent out disguised as a poor mountain boy to pass the seven severe tests of kingship required for regalia. rulers, Randy had happened to come first to the kingdom of Pumperdink and had been hailed before the king as a vagrant.

The elegant elephant, taking an instant fancy to the boy, had insisted that he be allowed to stay on as his own royal attendant. And in this comical capacity, Randy's adventures had begun. For scarcely had he been in the palace of Pumperdink a week before Kettywig the King's brother and the witch of Fallons be forest plotting to steal the crown caused the whole royal family to disappear by some strange and fiery magic barely missing the same fate Randy and Kabumpo managed to escape on their way through the forest they met a soothsayer who told them to seek out the red gen now no one in Oz had ever heard

of this singular personage. But after many delays and hair-raising experiences, Randy and Kaboompo finally arrived at his splendid red-glass castle. Geniki, it turned out, was the Wizard of Ev, and a merry and strange person he was. Genachy's whole body is encased in a shiny red jar into which he can retire like a turtle at will. and the little wizard's disposition is so gay and jolly, everyone around him feels the same way.

Not only did he welcome his visitors, but set off immediately to help the royal family of Pumperdink out of their misfortunes and enchantment. Once in Pumperdink, Randy, with the help of the Red Jinn's magic-looking glasses, was able to trace the lost king and his family and release them from the witch's spell. But before that, and while he was traveling here and there with Kabumpo and Janicki, the little prince was fulfilling all the tests and conditions required by the ancient laws of regalia of their kings. In other words, he had made three true friends, served a strange king, saved a queen, showed bravery in battle, overcome a fabulous monster, disenchanted a princess and received from a wizard and important magic treasure. And now, looking back on those brave bright days, he could not help thinking that earning

his crown had been more fun than wearing it. I wish we could do it all over again, he mused as Cabompo, after recalling their visit to Nandywog, the little giant, tossed off the last of the cider. "'But think where we're going now,' gurgled Cabompo, setting down the barrel with a resounding thud. If something strange or exciting does not happen on the way there or back are in Genoqui's castle itself, I do not know my Oz and Evistory. Can't you just see Janicki's face when we arrive?

I wonder if Alibabaul is still grand advisor, and if the magic dinner bell is still working. Yes, yes, who's there? Cabompo raised his voice irritably as a persistent whistling came. through the keyhole." "'It's Dawkins,' explained an anxious voice from the other side of the door. The Duke says it's high time his highness was in bed, Your Highness. Oh, be off with you. Go dive in the feathers yourself.

His Highness is going to sleep in here on the floor." Kabumpo stood so close and spoke so violently through the keyhole. Dawkins was blown back against the opposite wall. Time footsteps pattered up and down the corridor. Then, finally deciding the young king was to have his own way at last, the footman and courtiers and even Uncle Hushafoo took themselves off. But not till everything was absolutely quiet and still, and everyone in the castle asleep. Did Kaboom-Po and Randy venture forth?

Then stepping softly as his own tremendous shadow. The elegant elephant with the young king on his back slipped through the silent halls and deserted courtyard, past the snoring sentries and keeper of the gate, and on out into the foresty highlands beyond the palace wall. Here in the bright white light of a smiling moon they took the highway to the north, for the castle of the Red Gin lies to the north by northeast of Regalia and Oz. How will we cross the deadly desert? Mermined Randy, drowsily clutching the few belongings he had tied up in an old silver tablecloth.

In it he had his oldest suit, some clean underwear, his toothbrush, and his trusty sword. Never cross a desert till you come to it, advised Kamopo. And we've crossed it before, you know. Yes, I know. Smiling to himself, Randy dropped his head on his bundle. and lulled by the agreeable motion of his gigantic bearer soon fell asleep to dream pleasantly of Alibaba and of Ginger, slave of the Red Jens dinner bell. End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 of the Silver Princess In Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson.

This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 3. Gapers Gulch Kabo. to escape from court life as Randy, moved rhythmically as a ship through the soft spring night. Humming to himself and busy with his own thoughts, he scarcely noticed that the highway was growing steeper and narrower until he was brought up sharp by an impassable barrier of rock. Now, Bosch and Botherskites!

I was sure this road ran straight to the deadly desert, he muttered, reaching back with his trunk to see that Randy was still safely aboard and asleep. Beats and butternuts! Do I have to turn back or plow through all this rubble? The elegant elephants' small eyes twinkled with irritation, and, easing himself to the right off the highway, he peered crossly up at the offending mass of stone. Finding no way round here, he swung over to the left and examined it closely from that side, and was just about to start resignedly through the brush when he discovered that what he had taken for an especially dark shadow

was really a cleft in the rock. It was barely wide enough for him to squeeze through without scraping the jewels from his robe. Now then, shall I risk it or wait till morning, mused Kabumpo, swaying undecidedly to and fro. It might take us straight through to the other side, of the highway, on the other trunk it might lead into a robberous cave or plunge us suddenly over a precipice.

Edging closer, the elegant elephant thrust his trunk into the crevice. It seemed smooth and solid and resolved to try it even though little of the moonlight penetrated into the narrow opening. Gabonpo stepped inside and proceeded to pick his way cautiously along the rocky corridor. for about the length of a city street it ran straight ahead, then curved sharply to the right. Here, Cabompo was heartened to see a lantern hanging from an iron spike, while carved on the smooth rock below was a blunt message. This is the entrance to Gaper's Gulch.

Pause here and give three yawns and a stretch for Sleperoo, Great Grand and most sonorous Gaper. Sonorous caper! Ho-ho-ho-hum! Whoever heard of such nonsense! Snarted Cabompo, squinting impatiently down at the notice. Ah, ho-hum! At this point, and without seeming able to help it, the elegant elephant yawned so terrifically,

his headpiece fell over one ear, and his jaw was almost dislocated. To recover his dignity and with tears starting from his eyes, He gave himself a quick shake, then stretched up his trunk to straighten his headgear. Splendid, drawled a sleepy voice. You may now proceed as before. Blinking angrily about to see who had addressed him, the elegant elephant spied a round-faced and widely gaping guard standing in a little niche in the rock.

Strap to his shoulders, instead of a knapsack, was a fat feather pillow, and as Cabompo came opposite, the guard's eyes closed, and, falling back against his cushion, he began gently to snore. As Cabompo stopped in some astonishment, the guard's nap was rudely interrupted by a pale full of pebbles that cascaded merrily down over his ears. There were twenty pails operating on a moving belt above his head, and at three-minute intervals they pelted him awake as Camompo presently discovered. The buttons on the guard's uniform were illuminated and spelled out his name, Winks.

Well, do I surprise you? inquired Winks, shaking the pebbles from his shoulders and rubbing his eyes with his yellow-gloved hands. Cabompo, too amused to speak, nodded. And you surprised me, admitted the guard, gaping three times just to prove it. You, big, enormous, impossible, whatever you are. You, why you should have been underground months ago. But that'll all be taking care of, he added smoothly. Just follow the arrows and you cannot miss. Just follow. You just follow. the arrows, just for—

As Cabompo, fuming from what he considered a mortal insult, lunged forward, the little soldier's eyes fell shut again. Held more by curiosity than my desire to continue the conversation, Cabompo waited for the next bucket of pebbles to shower over the guard. "'Lole the arrows!' went on winks as calmly as if he had not been interrupted at all. There are forty guards to point the way. Forty winks, he repeated, closing one eye. Ha, ha, ha, to point the way.

Ha, ha, ho. Do you get the point? As Cabompo started off with a little snort of disgust, he felt a slight prick in his left hind leg. For winks, just as he fell asleep, let fly an arrow from his old-fashioned bow. Before Cabompo had reached the end of the passageway, he had passed forty of the Gaper Guards. After his experience with the first he did not stop for further talk, but made the best speed

possible, resolved to rush through Gaper's Gulch, when he came to it without even passing to express his contempt. The Pebble awakeners were so neatly timed, each guard had a chance to speed an hour, after the flying elephant, and by the time Cabompo reached the opening at the other end of the rocky pass, he had forty arrows prickling through his robe or stuck here and there in his ears and ankles. With his tough hide they hurt no more than pinpricks, but vastly indignant at such treatment, the elegant elephant began jerking them out with his trunk.

"'What do they think I am a pincushion?' Huh, he snorted, pulling out the last one, and relieved to note that Randy had escaped the missiles entirely. Indeed, the young king of Regalia was sleeping as placidly as if he were home in his own castle. Cabompo, too, felt unaccountably drowsy, and as he pushed his way down into the rocky little glen, his steps grew slower and slower. So far as he could see by the light of the last waning moon,

There were neither houses nor people in Gaborish Gulch. In the center of the valley the rough stones and brush had been cleared away, and a series of flat rocks were spaced out almost like a gigantic checkerboard. Pausing beside the largest rock, Cabompo spelled out the name of Sleeperoo the Great and Sonorous. "'What is this a cemetery?' gulped the elegant elephant. "'But that cannot be, for no one in Oz ever done. guys. Ho-hum!

Leaning up against a dead pine and blinking furiously to keep awake, he pondered the unpleasant situation. Then deciding that cemetery or not, he must have some sleep, he lifted Randy down from his back and rolled him in a blanket he had thoughtfully brought along. Then, divesting himself of his jeweled robe and headpiece, Gabumpo stretched out carefully beside his young comrade, and in twenty minutes, was fast asleep. How long he slumbered, Cabompo never knew, but from a nightmare in which he was struggling in a bank of treacherous quicksand, he awoke with a frightful sinking feeling to find

he was surrounded by forty more of the gaper guards. Their buttons were also lit up, and on each plump chest he could read the word, wake. The wakes were busily at work with Pick and Spade, and unlike the Winks did not seem the least bit drowsy. Half convinced he was still asleep and dreaming. Cabompo peered out at them through half-closed lids, then gave a tremendous grunt. Great Gillikins! He was sinking!

The busy little wakes had dug a trench at least twenty feet deep all around him, and now, careless of their own safety, were shoveling away at the mound on which he was still precariously resting. Quick, a few more to the right, directs it a crisp little voice. Watch yourself there, Torpey. Ah, here he comes. Heads up, lads. As the chief wake spoke, Kabumpo felt the mound give way and down he rolled into the pit, while the wake scrambled frantically up the sides. Did you hear that fierce toot? Puff the little guard, addressed as Torpey.

It's awake, fellows. What's wrong with those sleeping arrows? Don't they work any more? I myself saw farty sticking in the big watsit when he came pounding out of the pass. Hurry, hurry, let's get him underground. And seizing their picks and spades again, the gaper guards began shoveling dirt into the pit, paying no attention to Kabumpo's furious blasts and bellows,

which grew wilder and more anguished as he suddenly realized that Randy was no longer beside him. "'What have you done with the boy? Halt! Stop! How dare you cast dirt on an imperial prince of Pumperdinck, or try to bury the elegant elephant of Oz!' Shaking the mud from his head and raising his trunk. Kabumpo let out such an ear-splitting trumpet, Twenty wakes fell to their knees, and the others dropped pick and shovel and stared at him in positive dismay. But, sir, it is quite customary to bury all visitors, quavered Torpe as soon as he could make himself heard. We'll dig you up in six months, and you'll be good as new. Our dormitories are so very comfortable, and all gapers lie dormant for six months.

But I'm not a gaper. screamed Kabumpo, interrupting himself with the yawn both wide and gusty. "'Oh, but you soon will be,' asserted Torpey, squinting down at him earnestly. "'Why, you're gaping already. Now lie down like a good beast. Sleeping underground is lovely.' "'Lovely!' repeated all the rest of the wakes, beginning to croon as they shoveled. Kabumpo opened his mouth to protest again, caught a bushel of earth between his tusks, and, half-choked and blind with rage, the elegant elephant hurled himself at the side of the pit. He could almost reach the top with his trunk, and, as the wakes squealing with alarm shoveled

faster and faster, he wound his trunk round an old tree stump, and by main strength hauled himself up over the edge. "'No!' he bellowed, spreading his ears like sails. "'Where have you buried the boy? Quick, speak up, or I'll pound you two splinters.' Snatching a log in his trunk, Cabompo surged forward. But the terrified wakes, instead of answering, bled for their lives, leaving Cabompo all alone in the ghostly little valley.

"'Randy, Randy, where are you? Oh, my poor boy, are you suffocated? Galloping this way in that. Gabonpo peered desperately about for a patch of newly turned earth, but only the wind, whistling drearily through the dead branches of the pine trees, came to answer him. Frantic with worry, the elegant elephant began pounding with his log on the headstones of the dormant capers, trumpeting at the same time in a way to wake the dead.

End of chapter three. Chapter 4 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libri-Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 4. Out of Gapers Galtch. Now, the Gapers were not dead, but only sleeping, and soon the dormant natives of this strange hibernation lifted up their headstones and began blinking out indignantly to see what and who had got loose in their quiet. at Valley.

Silence! cease, desist! Shuttered Sleaparoo the great and sonorous, holding up his headstone with one hand and waving his other arm feebly at Caboompo. A bit more of that racket and will be roused for months. Who are you? And what is the meaning of all this ha-ho humbuggery? Gaping ten times in quick succession, Then Slaiparoo stuck out his lip at the elegant elephant.

Kabompo startled by the spectacle of a hundred lifted headstones, and the round, dirty, moon-like faces gaping up at him, said nothing for a whole minute. Then stepping over to the chief gaper, he burst out angrily. I am a traveller whom your guards stuck full of arrows and then tried to bury. The young king who was with me has disappeared. I, the elegant elephant of Oz and Pumperdink, demand his release. What have you done with the King of Regalia? Produce him at once, or I'll stand here and trumpet till Doomsday.

To show he meant what he said, Kabampo let out such a terrific blast, the headstones of his listeners rocked and shivered. Oh, my head, my ears, my ears, my dear. Give him what he's yelling for, sobbed slooparoo, crouching under his headstone, as Cabompo lifted his trunk for another trumpet. "'Is this a king?' asked a fretful voice. And, lurching round, Cabompo saw a fat old gaper now halfway above ground,

balancing his stone on his fat head. He held Randy out at arm's length. Instead of digging him a proper bed, they struck him in with me, he complained. Here, take him. He kicks like a mule, and I can't abide a kicker. With a relieved grunt, Kabumpo snatched Randy from the Gaper's damp clutches, thankful the boy still had strength enough to kick. Randy's face was quite pale and covered with dirt,

but after a few anxious shakes he opened his eyes and looked confusedly round him. "'It's nothing,' sniffed Cabompo. "'It's quite all right, my boy. You've just been buried to the ears and sleeping with a groundhog.' "'Burried, Randy as Cabompo set him gently on his back. "'Not buried at all, but just lying dormant as a sensible body should,' corrected the old gapeer, dropping out of sight with a slam of his headstone. "'Go away, please go away.

way, begged Sleeperoo, as Cabompo began stepping gingerly between the stones. "'You're ruining our rest, you big bullying behemoth?' "'I'll not sturry step till you send a guide to lead me out of this gulch,' declared Cabo. "'Call a guard, or I'll call one myself.' "'No, no, please not. "'Tarpie, snarpie, I say, torpee,' weased Sleeperoo, stretching up his thin neck,

"'Come, come all of you at once, at once!' As quickly as they had vanished, the wakes slid from behind boulders and trees and up out of rocky crevices, their buttons twinkling cheerfully in the dark. Conduct these travellers to the head of the valley, ordered sleeperoo with a weak wave at the gaper guards. "'I thought this was a gulch,' yawned Kabumpo,

while Randy began to shake the dirt from his hair and ears. "'A gulch is a valley,' sniffed sleeperoo, lowering himself crossly. "'Look it up in any pictonary. A gulch is a valley or chasm.' "'And Gaper's gulch is a yawning chasm,' mumbled Kaboompo, as the chief Gaper and all the others began ducking back into their holes like rabbits into warrens. "'Good night to you.' He added as the last stone slammed down. Now then, you boys, fetch my headpiece and robe from that pit, and let's start on.

Kabumpo spoke so sharply. Ten weeks sprang to obey, and after they had brought them and both had been adjusted to Cabompo's liking, he signaled imperiously for Torpe and Snorpe to lead the way, and their companions took thankfully to their heels. For a while the two little wakes marched ahead in a subdued silence as the elegant elephant picked his way round rocks and tree stumps. "'Not mad, I hope,' Torpey, most talkative of the two, looked anxiously over his shoulder. "'No, no certainly not.

I don't know when I've spent a more delightful evening,' Cabompo said. Being struck full of arrows and then buried alive is such splendid. entertainment. Oh, I say now, we cannot all be alike, put in snorpe, coming to the rescue of his embarrassed companion. If those arrows had taken effect, you'd have been dead asleep before we buried you and know nothing for six months. That's a lot of sleep to miss, Mr.—uh, Mr.—cabumpo, chuckled Randy, who was now wide

awake and quite recovered from his harrowing experience. But you see, Cabompo and I sleep every night, and not all in one stretch as you do. "'Hm. More trouble that way,' murmured Snorpe, shaking his head disapprovingly. "'Keep you hopping up and down all the time. In the gulch, we sleep half the year, and then we are done with it.' "'And what do you do when you are not sleeping?' inquired Cabompo, stifling a yawn with his trunk. We eat, grinned Snorpe, his eyes twinkling brighter than his buttons. Breakfast from July 1st to August 31st, lunch from September 1st till October 31st, and dinner from November 1st till New Year's.

You mean you eat straight through without stopping? Gasped Randy, razing himself on one elbow. All the time you're awake. Don't you ever want to? work or play or go on journeys? I don't know what you mean by work, play, and go on journeys, but whatever they are, we don't. We eat and sleep, sleep and eat, and everything is perfectly gorgeous,

confided the wake with a satisfied skip. Garging is gorgeous to some people, I suppose. Cabompo tossed his head to show it was not his way. Then how is it you fellows are not sleeping along with the other gapers? Oh, we're trained to sleep in summer and fall and to eat in winter and spring. The winks are not so clever at staying awake as we are, but they'll learn, and meanwhile the pebbles keep them fairly active. "'Yes, active enough to shoot at visitors,' grunted Cabompo, winking at Randy.

"'Do you shoot one another asleep, or is that a special treat you reserve for travelers?' "'We just shoot at travelers,' admitted Snorpey quite cheerfully. otherwise they wouldn't interfere with our customs, interrupt our sleeping and eating, and wake us up out of season. Just as we did, chuckled Randy. I suppose we interrupted your dinner, this being one of the dinner months. Both guards nodded exchanging pleased little smiles. Come on back and have a bite with us, invited Snorpey generously. We've weak fish for the first week, chopped for the second.

Randy, talking at Cabompo's collar, begged him to stop, for Randy was hungry as a brace of bears, but the elegant elephant shaking his head till all his jewels rattled declined the invitation with great firmness. "'No, knowing what will come of it,' he whispered to his disappointed young comrade, "'might put us to sleep for a century, and it's about all I can do to keep my eyes open now. wait till we're out of this goopy gulch, my lad, and we'll eat and sleep like a gentleman. After all, we are gentlemen and not groundhogs. Urging his eyes to greater speed, the weary beast pushed doggedly on through the brush and stubble.

Snorpe and Torpe, insulted by the shortness with which the elegant elephant had refused their invitation, had little more to say, and in less than a little bit more to say, and in less than a little bit of a little bit of aftly, an hour had brought the travelers to the end of the rocky little valley. From where they stood, a crooked path wound crazily upward, and with a silent wave aloft, the two wakes turned and ran. Back to their dinner, sighed Randy, looking hungrily after them. But Cabompo, charmed to see the last of the ghostly goat in its inhabitants, began to ascend the path, not even stopping for a breath still he had come to the top. Even after this he traveled on for about five miles

to make sure no sleepy vapors or gapers would trouble them again. The moon had waned and the stars grown faint as he stopped at last in a small patch of woodland. Here, without removing his headpiece or robe, Cabompo braced his back against a mighty oak and fell asleep on his feet, and Randy, soothed and rocked by his tremendous snores, soon closed his eyes and slept also. End of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 of the Silver Princess In Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libri-Vox recording is in the public domain.

Chapter 5. Headway When Randy wakened, Kabumpo had already started on grumbling under his breath because nowhere in sight was there a green bush, a tree, or anything at all that an elephant or little boy might eat. "'Where are we?' yawned Randy, sitting up and rubbing his eyes with his knuckles. "'Great Gillikins, this is as bad as gapers gulch. All the countries bordering on the deadly desert are queer, no-count little places,' sniffed the elegant elephant, angrily jerking his robe off a cactus.

and from the feel of the air we must be near the desert now." At mention of the deadly desert, Randy lapsed into an uneasy silence, for how could they ever cross this tract of burning sand, and how could they reach Ev or Genochi's castles when they did cross it? While this vast belt of destroying sand effectively kept enemies out of Oz, it also kept the Ozian's inn. If we only had some of Genochi's magic or even his silver dinner-bell to bring us a good breakfast, sighed Randy, glancing round hungrily.

Pretty stupid of me not to have brought along a lunch, and there's not even a brook or stream in this miserable little patch of woods where a body could quench his thirst. Maybe it will rain, and that would help a little. Maybe, admitted Cabompo, squinting up at the leaden sky. Anyway, here we are out of the woods, but take a look at those rocks." And those heads behind the rocks, whispered Randy, clutching Cabompo's collar. There's something pretty odd about those heads, if you ask me, weezed the elegant elephant, curling up his trunk.

Odd, or I am losing my eye and ear sight. Odd, hissed Randy, tightening his hold on Cabompo's collar. "'Good, goats and gravy! "'They're flying round and loose like birds. "'Why, they've got no bodies on them, no bodies at all.' "'Read the sign,' directed Cabompo, "'uncirling his trunk and pointing to a crude warning, "'scratched out on a flat slab at the edge of the road,

"'leading to the rocky promontory above. "'Heads up. "'This road leads to headland. No bodies allowed. Hmm, well, we won't make much headway without our bodies, grunted Kabumpo, as Randy read the message slowly to himself. Such impudence, why should we pay any attention to such stuff? Bodies are not, we're going on, and how can fellows minus feet in arms hope to stop us?

They might crash down on us with their heads, worried Randy, as an angry flock. of headmen circled round and round at the top of the road, and those heads look hard. Not any harder than mine. Keep your crown on, Randy, advised Kvumpo, grimly. The spikes will dent them good, and if you reach down to my left-hand pocket, you'll find a short club. The club will be better than your sword. You can't cut a head off no neck, and besides, we don't really want to injure the pests. Already? Then here we go.

Randy did not answer, for hooking his heels through Cabompo's harness. He was already delving into the capacious pocket on the left side of the elegant elephant's robe, discovering not only a club, but a quiver full of darts. Jerking himself upright, the club in one hand, the darts in the other. He peered aloft with growing anxiety. as foot over foot Kabumpo climbed up the granite slope. The faces of the headman were round and deeply wrinkled from the hot winds blowing off the desert.

Their ears huge and fan-shaped, flapped like wings, and like wings, propelled them through the air. Before Kabumpo reached the top, a whole bevy came whizzing toward them, screaming out indignant threats and warnings. "'Off, be off!' they shouted hysterically. "'Off with their arms! Off with their legs! Off with their bodies! Halt! Stop! Be gone, you miserable, creepy, crawly creatures! You dare not set a foot on our beautiful headland!' "'Oh, daren't we?' Kabumpo shook his truck belligerently. "'And who is to stop us, pray?'

"'I am!' rasped the ugly of the, of the headman, snatching a coral of wire from a niche in the rocks with his teeth, the ugly little muggly came flapping toward them. Another of the headsman hastened to seize the opposite end of the wire in his teeth, and, stretching it between them, they came rushing on. "'Watch out,' warned Randy, dropping flat between Kabumpo's ears. "'They're going to trip you up.' "'Rong!

How wrong!' chattered all the headsmen, bobbing up and down like balloons let off their strings. They're going to cut off his body, confided one of the long-nosed tribesmen, zooming down to whisper this information in Randy's ear. The creature's head is welcome enough, and with those enormous ears he'll have no trouble flying. But his body, oh, his body is awful and must stay behind. and your body too, you little monster. We'll cut that off, too, promised the Hedsman in his oily voice.

What use is a body, anyway? I see you have very small ears, but they can be stretched, and just wait till you've been debodicated. You'll feel so right and light and flighty. Help, stop, help, help, screamed Randy, as the ugly, muggly gave him a playful nip on the ear. Back up, Kabumpo, back down! They're going to catch you in that wire and choke you.

Pah, nonsense, panted the elegant elephant, and heaving himself up over the last barrier. He stepped confidently out on the rocky plateau. Heads up, heads up, shrilled the headsman, while the two with the wire, deftly encircling, Kabum. Kambonpo's great neck, began to fly apart in order to draw the noose tighter. Kabumpo ducked, but much too late.

And though his ferocious trumpeting sent swarms of headsmen fluttering aloft, the two holding the wire stuck to their task, pulling and jerking with all their teeth, till Kibompo's jeweled collar was pressing uncomfortably into his throat. "'Don't worry,' he grunted Gay-Mple. Their teeth will give way before my neck does. Calm yourself, my boy. Calm yourself. But how could Randy feel calm, with his best friend in such a predicament, and already beginning to gasp of a breath? Jumping up and down on Cabompo's back, he rattled his club valiantly, but the headsmen were too high up for him to reach, and when at last he flung to

the club with all his strength at the one on the left, it seemed to make no impression at all on the hard head of the enemy. Redoubling his efforts, he drew the wire tighter and tighter in his yellow teeth. In desperation, Randy suddenly remembered the darts, and drawing one from the quiver sent it speeding upward. The first missed, but as the elegant elephant began to sway and quivered beneath him, the second found its mark striking the headsman squarely in the middle of the forehead. An expression of surprise and dismay overspread his wrinkled features, and, next instant, with a terrific yawn, he dropped the wire and fell headlong to the rocks where he rolled

over and over and over. "'Great goopers!' exclaimed Randy. hardly able to believe his luck. Why, he's not hurt at all, but has fallen asleep. Watch the others, the others, gulped Kabumpo, shaking his head in an effort to free it from the wire. Already, another had flown to take his fallen comrade's place. But before he could snatch the wire, Randy brought him to earth with one of the sharply pointed darts. The next two ventured he shot down too, and the rest of the band came swarming down to see what was happening.

Randy sent arrow after arrow winging into the midst till the flat, smooth rock was dotted with sleepy heads, for each one hit promptly fell asleep. Though his arms ached and his heart thumped uncomfortably, Randy did not even pause for breath till he had sent the last arrow into the air, and then, quite suddenly, he realized he had won this strange and ridiculous battle. More than half of the earmen, as he could not help calling them to himself, lay snoring on the ground, the rest with terrified shrieks and whistles who were flapping off as fast as their ears would carry them. Now entirely free of the wire, but still trembling and gasping,

Gabonpo stared angrily after them. What I cannot understand, Pops Randy, sliding to the ground to examine a group of the enemy, is what put them to sleep? I thought your darts might hurt or head them off or puncture them like balloons, but instead here they are asleep. And how asleep? Shall I pull out the arrows? I might need them later. They're not my arrows, Kabumpo said, wrinkling his forehead in a puzzled frown.

I don't have any arrows, but ha-ha-hum! The elegant elephant began to shake all over. They must be gaper arrows. The wakes must have stuck them in my pocket when they fetched my robe and headpiece. Pretty cute of the little rascals at that. Why, these must be the same arrows. The wink shot at me, Randy, and my hide was too tough for them, and they didn't work. Well, they certainly made short work of the headman.

said Randy, turning one over gently with his foot. Goodness, I thought you'd be choked and done for, old fellow. Oh, me? Nonsense. My neck would have broken their teeth in another minute or two. Well, then, shall I pull out the arrows? asked Randy, who had his own opinion about Kabumpo's narrow escape. We could use them again sometime.

No, no, leave them in. So long as those arrows stick fast, the little villains will sleep fast, and that's the only way I can stand them. But suppose the others fly back, Randy still hesitated. Poor, don't you worry about that. Camompo raised his trunk scornfully. They're frightened out of their wits and probably halfway to the Sapphire City by this time. And when they do come back, we won't be here. "'Won't we?'

"'Dubiously. "'Randy began to pace across the bare and arid plateau. "'I certainly don't think much of Headland, do you?' "'I wouldn't have it for a gift, "'even if they threw in a tusk brush and diamond earrings besides,' snorted Cabompo. "'Why, it's nothing but a bumpy, bumpy acre of rock "'without a tree, a house, a bird, or even a blade of grass. "'I give the whole country for our...

a mouthful of hay and a bucket full of water. We might find a spring among the rocks, proposed Randy, hurrying along, hopefully. More likely a fall, predicted Cabompo, trudging gloomily behind him. But just then, Randy, who had vanished behind a sizable boulder, gave an excited whoop. Aye, aye, Kabumpo, we're here, we're here, right on the edge of it, he shouted vociferously. Look! The elegant elephant pushing round the rock did look. Then, mopping his forehead with the tip of his robe,

sank heavily to his haunches, and for a moment neither said a word. For truly enough, the jagged point of headland projected over the desert as a high cliff hangs over the sea. Below, the seething sand smoked, churned, and tumbled, sending up sulphurous waves of heat that made both travellers cough in slutter. So all we have to do is cross, gasped Randy, dashing the tears brought by the smoke out of his eyes. And a simple thing that will be, grunted the elegant elephant sarcastically, seeing that one foot on the sand spells instant destruction.

If we could just flap our ears like the headmen we could fly across, But we can't, sighed Randy, seating himself despondently on a boulder. What are we to do? Well, that remains to be seen, muttered Kabumpo, who are not the faintest notion. Never cross a deadly desert on an empty stomach is my motto, and I'm going to stick to it. Sticking to mottoes won't get us anywhere, Randy said, skimming a stone off the edge, and watching with a little shudder as it was sucked down into the whirling sand. Doesn't that desert make you thirsty?

Goopers, if I had a dipper full of water, I'd gladly do without the breakfast. Looks as if you might have that wish. Feeling hurriedly in the right pocket of his robe, Caboompo dragged out a waterproof as large as a tent. Just spread this over me, will you? He puffed anxiously. Storm coming, hear that thunder, storm coming." "'Cumbing,' cried Randy, springing up to help Cabompo with the buckles.

Why, it's here. He had to raise his voice to a scream to make himself heard above the gale that, arising apparently from nowhere, struck them furiously from behind. He had just fastened the last strap of the waterproof to Cabompo's left ankle, when the rain swept down in perfect torrents. accompanied by hailstones as big as Easter eggs. There was ample room for Randy beneath the elegant elephant, and standing between his front legs, the young monarch lifted the waterproof and reaching out caught a huge hailstone in his

hand. Touching it against his parched lips, Randy gave a sigh of content, then crunching it up rapturously, stuck out his head, and let the pelting downpour cooled his hot dusty face. "'Wonder if this will put out the desert,' he mused, ducking back as a terrible clap of thunder, boomed like a cannon shot overhead. "'Say, it's a lucky thing you're so big, Kabumpo,' he called up cheerily. "'We'd be blown away. We! Listen to that wind, would you?' "'Have to do more than listen,' howled the elegant elephant,

bracing his feet and lowering his head. A high below. Catch hold of something, Randy. Help. High. Hold on. Hold on. For the love of blue mountains.

Here we go. Here we blow. Boomp. Gah! Oh, no, Kabumpo, no. Leaping up, Randy caused the elegant elephant's broad belt. Put on the brakes, quick. And Kabumpo did try.

making a futile stand against the tearing wind. But the mighty gale, whistling under his waterproof, filled it up and out like a balloon. And with a regular ferry-boat blast, Kabumpo rose into the air and zoomed like a zepplin over the deadly desert, while Randy, hanging grimly to the strap of his belt, banged to and fro like the clapper of a bell. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 6.

The Other Side of the Desert Remembering the deadly and destroying nature of the sands below. Randy did not dare to look down. Besides, holding on took all his strength and attention for Cabompo was born like a leaf before the howling gale, faster and faster and faster, till he and Randy were too dazed and dizzy to know or care how far they had gone or where they were blowing to.

Which was perhaps just as well, for as suddenly as it had risen, the gale abated, and coasting down the last high hill of the wind, saved from a serious crash only by his faithful torpullion, which now acted as a parachute, Kabumpo came jolting to earth. With closed eyes and trunk held stiffly before him, the elegant elephant remained perfectly motionless,

awaiting destruction, and wondering vaguely how it would feel. He was convinced that they had come down on the desert itself. Then, as no fierce blasts of heat assailed him, he ventured to open one eye. Randy, shaken loose by the force of the landing, had rolled to the ground a few feet away, and now, jumping to his feet, cried joyously. Why, it's over, Capumpo, over, and so are we.

Oh, I never knew you could fly, old push the foot. Neither did I, shuddered the elegant elephant, and jerking off the waterproof he flung it as hard and as far as he could. Oh, don't do that. Randy dashed away to pick it up. That good old coat saved our bacon and ballooned us across the desert as light as a couple of daisies. But we're no better off on this side than on the other, grumbled Cabompo surveying the barren countryside with positive hatred.

Not a house, a field, a farm, or a castle in sight. The idea was to get away from castles, wasn't it? Randy grinned up at his huge friend, and, folding the waterproof into a neat packet, tucked it back in his place. "'Well, there's one thing about castles,' observed the elegant elephant, giving his robe a quick tug here and there. "'At least the food's regular. I could eat a royal dinner from soup to napkins.' "'Give me a boost up that tree, and I'll have a look around,' proposed Randy. Need a spyglass to find anything worth looking at in this country, complained Kabumpo, lifting Randy into the fork of a gnarled old tree.

Shinneying expertly up the rough trunk, Randy looked carefully in all directions. We certainly cleared the desert by a nice margin, he called down Gilly. It's at least a mile behind us, and toward the east I see a cluster of white towers that might be a castle. "'And nothing between,' mourned Kabumpo with a hungry swallow. "'No fields, archers, or melon patches?' "'There are fields, but they're too far away for me to see what's growing. "'And there's a forest, too. "'What country is this, Cabompo, do you know?'

"'Depends on how we blew,' answered the elegant elephant, "'lifting Randy out of the tree and tossing him lightly over his shoulder. "'If we blew straight from headland, which is certain, the north-western tip of the Gillican country of Oz, we should be in no land. If we blew slant-wise, this would be Ix. Then I hope we blew slant-wise, Randy spread himself out luxuriantly behind Cabompo's ears. For if we are in Ix, we have only one country to cross before we reach Ev and Genoke's castle.

And the sooner we start, the sooner we'll arrive, agreed Cabompo, swinging into action. But if I drop in my tracks boy, don't be too surprised. I'm hollow as a drum and weak as a violet. Too bad we're not like the headman, said Randy, who felt dreadfully hollow himself. Without a body, I suppose one does not feel hungry. Wonder what became of them anyway. Who cares, sniffed Kamumpo, picking his way crossly through the rocks and brambles. They probably blew about for a while.

while, but with ears like sails, what's a gale of wind or weather? Oh, what's that I see under? A farmer? No, just a hat stuck on a pole to scare away the crows, Randy told him after a careful squint. But nothing grows in the field but rocks, so why do they bother? Did you say a hat? Cabompo's small eyes began to burn and twinkle. And, breaking into a run, he was across the field.

feels like a flash. Cabompo, gasped Randy, as the elegant elephant snatched the hat from the pole and took a huge bite from the brim. Surely you're not going to eat that old hat. Why not? demanded the elegant elephant, cramming the rest of the hat into his mouth and crunching it up with great gusto. It's straw, isn't it? A little old and tough to be sure, but nourishing and any way better than you.

Nothing. Almost strangling on the crown, Capumpo glanced sharply across the field, then looked apologetically back at the young writer. "'Great gooseberries,' he muttered contritely. "'I'm sorry as a goat. Why, I never save you even an edge.' "'Oh, never mind,' choked Randy, holding his side to the very idea of such a thing. Even if I were starving, I couldn't eat a hat. But look old push the foot. Isn't that a barn showing over the top of that hill?

Born, weased Cabompo, lifting his trunk dryfully. Why, it is so. Ho, this is something like! And hiccuping excitedly, from the effects of the hat, no doubt, Cabompo went galloping over the brow of the little hill. A pleasant valley dotted with small forms stretched out below. Randy was relieved to note that its inhabitants were usual-looking beings like himself. Children rode gleefully on wagons piled high with hay.

Farmers in wide-brimmed yellow hats, rather like those worn by the Winkies and Oz, worked placidly in the fields. Everyone seemed contented, calm and happy, that is, until Cabompo, delighted to find himself again in a land of plenty, came charging down the hill, trumpeting like a whole band of music. Oh, too bad you frightened them nearly out of their wits, mourned Randy, hanging on to Capumpo's collar to keep his balance, as the elegant elephant forgetting his elegance made a dash for the nearest hayrick.

Help, hot, stop! Now see what you've done. To tell the truth, the havoc ensuing was not all, Kumompo's fault. No one in this tranquil valley of Ix had ever seen an elephant before, and the sight of one rushing down upon them was so unnerving and strange they fled in every direction, leaping into barns and houses, and barring and double-barring the doors against this terrifying monster. Horses hitched to their haywagons, cantered madly east and west, and the air was filled with loud shriek, snies and the bellows of stampeding cattle.

Such dummies, panted Kabumpo, coming to a complete standstill. Well, he gave a tremendous sniff. If they don't want to meet a king, a prince, and the most elegant elephant in Oz, what do we care? I've invited myself to breakfast anyhow, and they can like it or kabump it. Just wait till I load away one stack of this hay, my boy. boy, and I'll find you a breakfast fit for a king and traveler." And the Elican Elephant was as good as his word.

After tossing down a great mound of new-mone hay, he swaggered over to the nearest farmhouse. Pushing in the kitchen window with his trunk, he handed up to Randy everything the little farmer's wife had on her kitchen table, a bowl of milk, a pat of butter, a loaf of bread, a cold half-chicken, and three hard-barred eggs. "'Do control yourself, madam,' he advised, as the palpitating little lady flattened herself against the opposite wall. These pearls will more than pay for your provisions.' Afraid to touch the lovely chain Cabompo placed on the table, the little Ixie watched

with round eyes as Cabompo backed away. "'Oh, I guess that will give her something to tell her grandchildren,' snorted the elegant elephant?" Randy was too busy taking rapturous bites first of bread and then of chicken to answer. "'Why is it that everything tastes so much better when you are traveling?' he remarked a bit later, as he finished off the rest of the chicken and put the bread, butter, and eggs away for his lunch." "'Cause we're hungry, I suppose,' smiled Kabumpo, crossing another field, and then there's

the novelty. Calling the straw hat with a little chuckle, Cabompo winked back at his young writer. "'But now that we've breakfasted, I think we'd better be moving. I see some of these farmers gathering up their courage and their pitchforks, and I'm too full to fight.' "'Poo! They couldn't hurt us,' boasted Randy, stretching out comfortably. "'I rather wish they hadn't run off, though. I'd like to ask them something about the country. And you know, Cabompo, I've no. I've never been. never ridden on a hay wagon in all my life, and I'd sort of like to try it."

"'That's the worst of being a king,' observed Cabompo, walking carefully around a brown calf. "'You miss a lot of the common and ordinary pleasures. Hmm, hmm, let's see now. All the horses have run off, but there's still a heap of hayabout. So why shouldn't you have a ride?' "'Without any wagon?' inquired Ray about. Randy, looking wistfully at the largest of the haystacks. "'Why not?' puffs Kamumpo, and lifting Randy hurriedly down from his back.

He rushed at the haystack, burrowing into it with tusk, feet, and trunk, till he was in the exact center. Then heaving up with his back and forward with his trunk, he pushed till his head stuck out the other side. "'Come on!' he grunted triumphantly. You'll not only have your hayride, but I'll have my lunch." Throwing Randy to the top of the load, the elegant elephant looking far from elegant, set off at a lumbering gallop, carrying the haystack right along with him.

At sight of his prize haystack, apparently running away by itself, the outraged owner stuck his head out of the window and screamed, but that did not bother Kabumpo. The load was but a feather's weight to him, and with the young king of Regalia dancing and yelling on the top, he swept merrily through the startled valley. Those at the lower end, who had not seen Cabompo arrive, now catching sight of a load of hay moving off by itself, simply fell against fences and barn doors, blinking and gulping with astonishment, too stunned and shocked to return the gay greetings of the unschalant young, and

Gulligan riding the load. Gabumpo, sampling stray whisp as he ran, and peering out comically from under the hay, enjoyed to the utmost the sensation he was causing. Make a wish, my boy, he shouted exuberantly. It's awfully lucky to wish on the first load of hay. Then I wish we would reach the Red Jens Castle before night, decided Randy, and wouldn't Geniecky let me? If you could see us now.

Did you leave a pearl for the hay, Kabumpo? Certainly, retorted the elephant, speaking rather stuffily through the haystack. We're travelers, not thieves. Hi, what's ahead, my lad? This load has shifted a bit over my left eye, and I can scarcely see out of my right. A dry riverbed, called Randy, bouncing up and down with the keenest enjoyment. Go slow, old push the foot. or you'll lose your lunch.

Not on your life, puffed the elegant elephant. I'll stop and eat it first. Oh, hayfoot, stroth foot, any foot will do. Down the bank and up the bank, and now how is the view? Elegant, breathed Randy, gritting to himself at Cabumpo's verses. More fields, meadows, forests, everything. But even so, I... They smell, sulfur.

Kabumpo moved his trunk slowly from side to side. Something's burning, my lad, and close at hand, too. Why, it's a horse. Randy's voice cracked from the sheer shock of the thing, and coming straight forest, too. Wait, stop, hold on. No, maybe you'd better run. Great, Gillikins.

It's smoking. A pipe, inquired Kibompo, trying to see through the fringe of hay that was obscuring his vision. And what if it is, am I the elegant elephant of Oz, to run away from a mere and miserable equine? But this horse, squealed Randy, sliding headfirst off the haystack. This horse is different. Oh, really, really, Kabumpo, I think we'd better run. Never. Pushing the hay off his forehead with his trunk.

Gabonpo looked fiercely out. Then, with a start that dislodged half the load, he began backing off as rapidly as he could, dragging Randy along by the tail of his coat. End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre Vox recorded. is in the public domain. Chapter 7. The Princess of Another Planet. Even so, Kabumpo was not

fast enough, and, as the immense black charger with its tail and mane, curling like smoke, its fiery nostrils flashing flames a foot long, came galloping upon them, Randy flung himself face down on the ground to escape its burning brink. breath. The most terrifying thing about the black steed was the complete silentness of its coming. Its metal-shot feet struck the earth without making a sound, giving Cabompo such a sense of unreality he could not believe it was true, nor move another step. In consequence, as the enormous animals swirled to a halt before him, a dozen darting

flames from its nostrils set fire to the load of hay on his back, enveloping him in a hot and exceedingly dangerous bonfire. Now thoroughly aroused, Kabumpo leapt this way and that, and Randy, unmindful of his own danger, jumped up and tried to beat out the fire with his cloak. But the hay blazed and crackled, and the elegant elephant would certainly have been roasted like a potato, and he not reared up on his hind legs and let the whole burning burden slide from his back. Scorched and infuriated, his royal robes burned and blackened,

Gabumpo backed into a handy brook and sat down, from which position he glared with positive hatred at his prancing adversary. But a complete change had come over this strange and unbelievable steed. his nostrils no longer spurted flames, and as Randy plumped down beside Cabompo, deciding this was the safest spot for both of them, the lordly creature dropped to its knees and touched its forehead three times to the earth. Away, away, you big, melless, panted the elegant elephant, throwing up his trunk. Be gone, you good for nothing, hey, burner.

But Cabompo, pleaded Randy, as the horse, Paying no attention to the elegant elephant's angry screeches, began throwing little puffs of red smoke into the air. He's trying to give us a message. Look! Hail and salutations! The words floated out smoothly, and ranged themselves in a neat line. I hereby acknowledge you as my master.

I can flash fire from the eye, the nose and the mouth. But you, you flash fire from the whole body. Hail and salutations from Thun, the thundercult. Yonder rests my mistress Plenetti, princess of another planet. Who are you great and much to be envied spurtter of fire? Sky-riding, gasped Randy. Oh, Cabompo, how are we going to answer? He did not hear your scolding. I don't believe he can hear us at all. Fire spurture, ho, ho, and how are you going to keep up that reputation?

I'm not, grunted Cabompo, but in a much less savage voice, for he was almost completely won over by the thundercoats flattery. Let me see now. Couldn't we signal to the silly brute? There he stands looking up in the air for an answer. Well, Randy said, with your trunk in my arms we could form any number of letters, so this is Cabompo, elegant elephant of Oz. I am Randy, king of regalia. With infinite pains and patience, the two spelled out the message.

Puzzled at first, then seeming to understand. stand? Thun's clear yellow eyes snapped and twinkled with interest. Tossing his smoky mane he puffed a single word into the air. "'Come!' Then away he flashed in his noiseless gallop. "'Shall we?' cried Randy, jumping out of the creek, for he was curious to know more about the thunder-cult, and to meet the princess of another planet. "'Are you cooled off? Did the water put you out?' Oh, I'm put out all right, grumbled Cabompo, lurching up the bank.

Very put out and in splendid shape to meet a princess, I must say. Come on, you don't look so bad, urged Randy, tugging impatiently at his tusk, while Cabompo himself endeavored to wring the water out of his robe with his trunk. Even without any trappings or jewels at all, you'd stand out in any company. There's nobody bigger or handsome. than you, Kabumpo, know it? Ha! The elegant elephant let go his robe, and gave Randy a quick embrace.

Then what are we waiting for, little brager-wagger? Tossing the young monarch lightly over his shoulder. The elegant elephant started after the thundercult, moving almost as smoothly and silently as Thun himself. Without one look behind, Thun had disappeared into a green forest, and how cool and delicious it seemed to Randy and Cabompo after the sky desert lands they had been traversing.

Flashing in and out between the tall trees, the thundercult led them to an ancient oak, set by itself in a little clearing. Here, leaning thoughtfully against the bowl of the tree stood the little princess of another planet. Cabompo, recognizing royalty at once when he saw it, lifted his trunk in a grave and dignified salute. Randy bowed, but in such a days of surprise and admiration he scarcely knew he was bowing. The small figure under the oak was strange and beautiful beyond description, giving an impression both of strength and delicacy.

Plenetti was fashioned of tiny meshed links, fine as the chain-mill worn by medieval knights of a metal that resists. of a metal that resembled silver, but which at the same time was iridescent and sparkling as glass. Yet the princess of another planet was live and soft as Randy's own flesh and bone self. Her eyes were clear and yellow like thuns. Her hair, a cascade of gossamer net, sprayed out over her shoulders and fell halfway to her feet. Plenetti's garments, trim and shaped to her figure, were of some veil. like net, and, floating from her shoulders was a cloak of larger meshed metal thread,

almost like a fisherman's net. "'Highnesses! Highness! Oh, very high, highnesses!' Prancing lightly before her, Thun puffed his announcement importantly into the air. "'Here you see! Kambumpti! Nelegant Nelephant of Naz and Sandy, king of Segalia!

Oh, my goodness, he has us all mixed up, worried Randy in a whispered aside to Cabumpo, whose ears had gone straight back at the dreadful name Thun had fastened upon him. Never mind. I, too, am mixed up. Everything down here is too perfectly letling. Oh, you can speak? Leaning forward, Randy gazed delightedly down at the little metal maiden. He had been afraid at first she would use the same skywriting talk as Thun.

But surely, smiled Plenetti, each word striking the air with the directness of a silver bell, so that Randy was almost as interested in the tune as in the sense. Only the creature folk on another planet are without power of speech or sound-making. They must go soft and silently. That is the Lineth Law. "'And a good law, too,' observed Cabompo, looking resentfully up at the thundercote's fading message. "'Permit me to introduce myself again, Your Highness. "'I am Cabompo, elegant elephant of Oz, and this is Randy, king of Regalia, which is also in Oz.'

"'Az,' marveled Plannetti, lifting her spear-like silver staff, whose tip, ending in three metal links fascinated Randy. "'Is this, then, the planet of Oz? "'And what are those, and these, and this?' In rapid succession, the little princess touched a cluster of violets growing round the base of the oak, a moss-covered rock, and the tall tree itself. "'Why, flowers, rocks, and a tree,' laughed Randy. "'Surely you must have flowers, trees, and rocks on another,

planet. No, nothing like this. All these colors and shapes. Everything on my planet is flat and grayling. The metal maiden raised her hands as she searched for the right words to explain another planet. It is all so different with us, she confessed, dropping her arms to her side. Yonder we have zonators, not trees, but tall shafts of metal, to which we fasten our nets when we sleep or rest. Underfoot we have network of various sizes and thicknesses with here and there sprays of vanadium. In our vanadium springs we freshen and renew ourselves, and without them we stiffen and cease to move. With one finger pressed to his forehead, Randy tried to vision. visualized Planetti's strange, grayling world.

But Cabompo, ever more practical, inquired sharply. And how often must you refresh and renew yourselves, Princess? Every sonester in the earling, answered the princess with a bright nod. Thun, tiring of a conversation he could not hear, had cantered off to investigate a rabbit. And Randy, sliding to the ground, came over to stand nearer to this strange little princess. Cabompo and I do not understand all those words, he told her gently. Sonester, earling, what do they mean? Why, a sonester, trilled Planetti, throwing back her head and showing all of her tiny silver teeth, is one dark, one light, one dark, one light,

one dark, one light, one dark, one light, one dark, one light, one dark, one light, one dark, one light, one dark, one light, one dark, dark, one light, and earling is when you waken from Rhett." "'Help!' shuddered Kibumpo, shaking his ears as if he had a bee in them. "'I know what she means,' crowed Randy, snapping his fingers gleefully. A son nestor on another planet is the same as a week here. All those lights and darks are days, and earling is the morning and Rhett is rest.' Then you do realize, worried Tabumpo, as Planetti looked questioningly from one to the other, that if this little lady in her coltra separated from their vanadium springs for a week,

they will become stiff, motionless statues, and that—the elegant elephant looked the pretty little princess first up and then down, that would be a great pity. We must help them back to another planet as soon as we can, my boy. Yes, yes, that is what you must do!" Planetti clapped her small silvery hands and blew a kiss to the elephant. If Thun had just not jumped on that thunderbolt— "'Jumped on a thunderbolt, did he?' A reluctant admiration crept into Cabompo's voice.

The princess nodded so emphatically. Her long, lovely hair danced and shimmered round her face like a cloud shot with starlight. You see, she went on gravely, we were on our way to a Zorodal. Cabompo and Randy exchanged startled glances, but realizing there would be many odd words in Plenetti's language did not interrupt her, and halfway there, continued Plenetti calmly, a dreadful storm overtook us. A bright flash of lightning frightened thun, and though I signal for him to stop, he sprang right up on a huge glowing thunderbolt that had fallen across the netway, and it fell and fell,

bringing us to where we are now. "'Well, that's one way of going places,' commented Kabumpo, swinging his trunk from side to side. "'But how can we find another planet when none of us fly?' demanded Randy anxiously. "'It must be miles above this country, for think how fast and fast and full. for thunderboats fall when they fall. Now you've forgotten the red gin, boomed Cabompo, winking meaningly at the young king, for at Randy's words,

the little princess had covered her face with her hands, and three yellow jewels had trickled through her fingers. Geneky can help Plenetti and Thun go any place they wish, insisted Cabompo in its loud, challenging base. Come, princess, follow your first. Fire-breathing steed, and we will travel on to the most powerful wizard in Ev." "'Eve? Wizard? Oh, how gay it all sounds!' Plenetti's voice rang out merrily as Christmas bells. With a lively skip she tapped her staff

three times on the ground, and Thun, though out of sight, came instantly bounding back to his little mistress. Vulting easily upon his back, the princess of a princess of a Another planet lifted her staff, and Cabompo, picking up Randy, started away like a whole conquering army. End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libri Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 8.

On to Ev. Is there any way you can signal to your mount to trot ahead? inquired Kabumpo, looking down sideways at the Thundercult, whose breath was blowing hot and uncomfortably against his side. "'Let Thun be the Vanguard,' he suggested craftily. "'When I trumpet once turn him left, at two turn right, at three he must halt.' "'Oh, fine,' approved Plenetti, tapping out the message with her heel on the thunder-cult's flank.

That will be simply delicious. Thun evidently agreed with her. For tossing his smoky maim, he cantered to a position just ahead of the elegant elephant, at which Cabompo heaved a huge sigh of relief. He did not wish to hurt Thun's feelings, neither did he wish to catch fire again. Here travel Thun the thunder-cult,

Plenetti, princess of another planet. Kabumpti of Nas and Slandy, king of Sigilia. Give way all ye comers and goers and arouse me not, for I am a seething mass of molten metal. Is he really? Marvelled Randy, gazing up at the fiery message, floating like a banner over their heads. Plenetti nodded absently.

Her interest so taken up with the wildflowers below, the blue sky above, and the wide-armed lacy-leafed trees of this ancient forest she could not bear to turn her head for fear of missing something. On her own far-away metal planet, skies were gray and leaden, and the various levels of slate and silver strata arranged in stiff and net-like patterns. The gay colors of this bright new world simply delighting. at her. And Randy and Cabompo she considered beings of rare and singular beauty. The word she used to herself when she thought of them was netiful, which is another way of

saying beautiful. A wonder that high-talkin Thomas couldn't get a name straight once in a while, complained Cabompo out of one corner of his mouth, as Thun's sentence spiraled away in thin pink smoke. Oh, what difference does it make? laughed Randy. I think Kabumpty is real cute. Cute, raged the elegant elephant with such a fierce blast. Planeti promptly turned thun to the left. Now see what you've done?

Snickered Randy, giving Kabumpo's ear a mischievous tweak. They think you want them to go left. As a matter of fact, I do, snapped Kabumpo grumpily. We must go east through Ix and then north to Ev." "'Puzzling and more puzzling,' murmured Plenetti, looking round at the elegant elephant. "'Where are all these curious places, Bumpo, dear? I thought all the time we were in Nause. Did you not tell us you were the big Bumpo of Nause?'

Randy peered rather anxiously over Cabompo's ear to see how he was taking this second nickname, but he need not have worried. The dear Bumpo, spoken in the metalmaid's ringing tones, fell like a charm on Cabompo's ruffled feelings, and, fairly oozing complacency and importance. He began to explain his own and Randy's real names and countries, hoping Plenetti would straighten them out in her own head, if not in thuns. You are right, he started off sonorously.

Randy and I both live in the land of Oz, a great oblong country, entirely surrounded by a desert of burning sand. But in Oz there are many, many kingdoms, first of all, the four large realms, the Gilliken country of the north, the quadling country of the south, the empire of the Winkies in the east, and the land of the munchkins in the west. Each of these kingdoms has its own sovereign, but all are under the supreme rule of Osma, a fairy princess as lovely as your own small self, and Osma lives in an emerald city in the exact center of Oz. Cabumpo paused impressively, while Plenetti's eyes twinkled merrily at his delicate flattery. Now, Randy and I hail from the North Gilligan country of Oz, proceeded the elegant elephant, moving along as he spoke in a grand and leisurely manner.

I come from the kingdom of Pumperdink, and Randy from the regal little realm of regalia. Only yesterday I arrived in regalia to visit Randy, and we are now on our way to the castle of the Red Gin, as I think I told you before. If we were in Oz, my dear, Cabompo rather lingered over the deer, Osma and her clever assistant, the Wizard of Oz, would quickly transport you to another planet with the magic belt. But you see we are not in Oz, for the same storm that overtook you and Thun overtook us, and hurled us across the deadly desert to this kingdom of Ix, where we all now find ourselves.

Fortunately, too, for otherwise we might never have met a princess from another planet. The little princess nodded in bright agreement. So, continued Kabumpo, picking a huge tiger lily and holding it out to her, as it is too difficult to travel back to the Emerald City of Oz, we will take you with us to the Wizard of Ev, whose castle is on the Narnastic Ocean in the country adjoining us. And a wizard is what? Plenetti turned almost completely round on her black charger, smiling teasingly over the tiger

lily at Caboompo. "'Why, a wizard—a wizard—' The elegant elephant fumbled a bit trying to find the right words to explain. "'A wizard is a person who can do by magic what other people cannot do at all,' finished Randy neatly. "'Magic?' Plenetti looked still puzzled. "'Oh, never mind.

find all the words, comforted Kamopo, flapping his ears good-naturedly, you'll soon see for yourself what that all means, and I'm sure Geniki will be charmed to do his best tricks for you, and send you back in fine and proper style to your own planet. Yes, Geniki can do almost anything, boasted Randy, taking off his crown and setting it back very much a tilt. and he's good fun, too. You like Genaqui. As much as Big Bumpo?

Planetry rolled her soft eyes fondly back at the elegant elephant, and Randy, feeling an unaccountable twinge of jealousy, wished she would look at him that way. Oh, maybe not so much as Cabompo. Of course, there's nobody like him. But pretty much as much, declared the young king loyally. "'But I like everything down here,' decided Plannetti, leaning forward to tickle thun's ear with a lily.

"'So now we know where we are,' whispered Randy under his breath to Camompo. "'And wait till Genie sees us traveling with a fire-breathing thunder-cult and the princess of another planet. "'Oh, don't we meet important people on our journeys, Camompo?' "'Well, don't they meet us?' inquired the elegant elephant, increasing his speed a little to keep up with fun. Though I wouldn't call this colt important myself, how is he any better than an ordinary horse? His breath is hot and dangerous, and it's not much fun traveling with a deaf and dumb brute who

burns everything he breathes on. Oh, he's not so dumb, observed Randy. Look at the way he leaped over that fallen log just now, and think how useful he'll be at night to blaze a trail and light the campfires. Hadn't thought of that, admitted Kumpo grudgingly. I guess he would show up pretty well in the dark, and I suppose that does make him trailblazer and lighter of the fires for this particular expedition.

Oh, and between you and me and the desert, this expedition had better move pretty fast than not stop sightseeing. Suppose those two nuthers had that vanadium shower at the beginning of the week instead of the middle. That would give them only about two more days to go. Great goose feathers. I'd hate to have them stiffen up on us halfway to Genoches. I might carry the princess, but what will we do with the colt? Let's not even think about it, begged Randy with a little shudder.

Gray goopers, Kabumpo. I hope Genaqui will be at home, and is magic in good working order, and powerful enough to send them back or keep them here if they decide to stay. If they decide to stay? Kabumpo looks sharply back at his young writer. Why should they? Well, Plenetti said she liked it down here. You heard her a moment ago, and I thought maybe.

Randy's face grew rosy with embarrassment. Ha, ha, so that's the way the wind lies. Cabompo chuckled soundlessly. Well, I wouldn't count on it, my lad, he called up softly. She probably has some Knight Planetti prince waiting for her up yonder, and will fly away without so much as a backward glance. And as for Genaqi being at home, why shouldn't he be at home?

And as for his magic not being powerful enough, why shouldn't it be powerful enough? He was in fine shape and form when I saw him in the Emerald City three years ago. By the way, why weren't you at that grand celebration? I understood Osma invited all the rulers of the realm. Uncle Hoochifu did not want me to leave, sighed Randy. He thinks of King's place is in his castle.

I wonder what he thinks now," said Kabumpo, trumpeting three times, for Thun was racing along too far ahead of them. Probably has all the wise men and guards running in circles to find me, giggled Randy, immediately restored to good humor, and say, when I do get back, oh, push the foot, I'm going to be king, and everything will be very different and gay. Yes, there'll be a lot of changes in regalia. he decided, shaking his head positively, why all those dull receptions and reviewings would tire a visitor to tears.

Oh, so you're still expecting her to visit you? Waving his trunk, Kabumpo called out in a louder voice. Not so fast, there, princess, hold thun back a bit. We might run into danger and we should all keep together on a journey. Besides, Kabumpo cleared his throat, apologetically. Randy and I must stop for a bite to eat. Plannetti's eyes widened, as they always did at strange words and customs, but she tugged obediently at Thun's main, and the Thunder Colt came to an instant halt. Randy himself tried to coax the little princess to eat something,

but she was so upset and puzzled by the idea he finally desisted and tried to share his bread and eggs with Cabompo. But the elegant elephant generously refused a marshal, knowing Randy had little enough for himself, and lunched as best he could from the shoots of young trees and saplings. Thun was so interested when Cabompo quenched his thirst at a small spring, that he too thrust his head into the bubbling waters. But withdrew it instantly, and with such an expression of pain and distress, Randy concluded that the water hurt the thundercult as much as fire hurt them.

He was quite worried till the flames began to spurt again from Thun's nostrils, for he was afraid the water might have put out Thun's fire, and hastened the time when he should lose all power of life in motion. Do you do this often? inquired Plenetti, as Randy tucked what was left into one of Cabompo's small pockets. Eat? Randy laughed in spite of himself. about three times a day or light.

He corrected himself hastily, remembering Plenetti had so designated the daytime. I suppose that vanadium spray or shower keeps you and Thun going, the way food does Cabompo and me. Plenetti nodded dreamily. Then, seeing Cabompo was ready to start, she tapped Thun with her silver heels, and away shrieked the thundercult,

Cabompo swinging along at a grand gallop behind him. Strange, we have not passed any woodsman's huts, nor seen any wild animals, called Randy, jamming his crown down a little tighter to keep it from sailing off. Hi, which out there, old pusherfoot? There's a wall ahead stretching away on all sides, going up higher and higher. What's a wall doing in a forest? Perhaps it shuts in the private shooting preserve of Queen's,

Zixie herself. Say, I'd like to meet the queen of this country, wouldn't you? No time, no time, puffed the elegant elephant, giving three short trumpets to warn Plannetti to halt Thun. Great gomp! Whoever built this wall wanted to shut out everything, even the sky. Can't even get a squint at the top, can you? Is this the great kingdom of Ev? asked Plenetti.

who had pulled thun up short and was looking at the wooden wall with lively interest. "'No, no, we're not nearly to Ev.' The elegant elephant shook his head impatiently. "'Back of this wall lives someone who dotes on privacy, I take it, or why should he shut himself in and everyone else out? Now then. Shall we cruise round or knock a hole in the wood? I don't see any doors, do you, Randy?' No, I don't.

Standing on the elephant's back, Randy examined the wall with great care. Why, it goes for miles, he groaned dolefully. Miles! Then we'll just bump through. Backing off, Cabompo lowered his head and was about to lunge forward, when Randy gave his ear a sharp tweak. Look, he directed breathlessly. Look!

While they had been talking, Thun had been sniffing curiously at the wooden wall, and now a whole round section of it was blazing merrily. Hooray! He's burned a hole big enough for us all to go through, yelled the king gleefully. Come on! Vexed, to think the thundercult had solved the difficulty so easily, and worried lest the whole wall should catch fire, Camompo signaled for Planetti to precede him.

But he need not have worried of him. about thuns firing the wall. The thundercult had burned as neat a hole in the boards as a cigarette burns in paper, and while the edges glowed a bit they soon smoldered out, leaving a huge circular opening. So, without further delay, Cabompo stepped through, only to find himself facing the most curious company he had seen in the whole course of his travels. End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 of the Silver Princess and Oz By Ruth Plummy Thompson

This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain Chapter 9 The Boxwood Why they're all in boxes breathed Ransy As a group with upraised hand and boxed fists advanced upon the newcomers Chili Walla

Chilliwala, yell the boxers, their voices coming muffled and strange, threw the hat-boxes they wore on their heads. Chili-wala, chili-wala, chili-wala, echoed Planetti, waving cheerfully at the oncoming host. Shh, pss, princess, that may be a war cry, warned Randy, drawing his sword and swinging it up so swiftly round his head, it whistled. Thun, too astonished to move a step, stood with lower, head, his flaming breath darting harmlessly into the moist floor of the forest. Chili-wala!

Chili-wala! Chilly-wala! Roared the boxers, keeping a safe distance from Kabumpo's lashing trunk. Chili-wala! Chili-wala! Their voices rose loud and imploring. As Randy slid off the elegant elephant's back to place himself beside Plenetti, A perfectly enormous boxer came clumping out of the boxwood to the left.

Yes, yes, he grunted, holding on his hatbox as he ran. When he caught sight of the travelers, he stopped short, and, not satisfied with peering through the eye-holes in his hat-box, took it off altogether and stood staring at them, his square eyes almost popping from his square head. Box their ears! Box their ears! Box their heads and arms and rears. Box their legs, their hands and chests. Box that fire-plug for all the rest. An iron box, screamed Chiliwalla.

As Thun, with a soundless snort, sent a shower of sparks into a candy-box bush, toasting all the marshmallows in the boxes. Oh, are you afraid to go about in this bare-backed, bare-faced, unboxed condition? He panted, exposed to the awful dangers of the raw outer air? Chilliwala hastily clapped on his hatbox, but not before Randy noticed that his ears were nicely boxed to. Without waiting for an answer to his question, the boxer with one shove of his his enormous boxed fist, pushed Thun under a box tree.

Plenetti had just time to leave from his back when Chilliwala shook a huge iron box loose, and it came clanking down over the thundercult. It was open at the bottom, and Thun, kicking and rearing underneath, jerked it east and west. "'He'll soon grow used to it,' muttered Chilliwala, jabbing a dozen hole. in the metal with a sharp pick he had drawn from a pocket in his boxcoat. "'Now then who's next? Ah, what a lovely lady!' Chilliwala gazed rapturously at the princess from another planet. Then, clapping his hands, call sharply,

"'Bring the jewel boxes for her ears, flower boxes for herself, "'a bonnet box for her head, candy boxes for her hands, slipper boxes for those tiny silver feet, bring stocking boxes, glove boxes, and hurry, hurry. Oh, please, Randy put himself firmly between Plannetti and the determined Chilliwala. The outer air does not hurt us at all, Mr. Chilliwala. In fact, we like it. Just try to find a box big enough for me, invited Cabompo, snatching up the little princess and setting her high on his shoulder. "'I think I have a packing-box that would just fit,' mused the chief boxer, folding his arms and looking sideways at the elegant elephant.

"'Pack him up, pack him off, send him packing,' chattered the other boxes, who had never seen anything like Gabumpo in their lives and distrusted him highly. But Chilliwala himself was quite interested in his singular visitors and inclined to be more friendly. "'Better try our boxes,' he urged seriously, as he took the pile of bright cardboard containers and assistant had brought him. Without bragging, I can say that they are the best boxes grown, stylish, nicely fitting, and decidedly comfortable to wear. Ha, ha, rumbled Kabumpo, rocking backward and forward at the very idea. "'Mean to tell me you wear boxes over your other clothes and everywhere you go?'

"'Sortunly,' Chilliwala nodded vigorously. "'Do you suppose we want to stand around and disintegrate? "'What happens to articles after they are taken out of their boxes?' he demanded argumentatively. "'Tell me that.' "'Why?' said Randy thoughtfully. "'They're worn or sold or eaten or spoiled or spoiled. "'Exactly!' Chilly Walla snapped him up quickly. "'They are worn out. They lose their freshness and their newness.

"'Well, we intend to save ourselves from such a fate, and we do,' he added complacently. "'You're certainly fresh enough,' chuckled Cabompo with a wink at Randy. "'But might not these boxes be fun to wear?' inquired Plenetti, looking rather wistfully at the bright heap the boxer chief had intended for her. No, no, and no, rumbled Cabompo positively, no boxes. As you wish, Shilly Walla shrugged his shoulders under his cardboard clothes-box. Shall I unbox the horse? Better not, decided Randy, looking anxiously at the sparks issuing from the punctures

and thuns box. "'But perhaps you would show us the way through this—this boxwood,' finished chiliwala. "'Yes, I will be most honored to conduct you through our forest. "'And you may pick as many boxes as you wish to,' he added generously. "'I'd like to do something for people who are so soon to spoil and wither.' "'Ha, ha. Now I'm sure that's very kind of you,' roared Kabum. Wiping his eyes on the fringe of his robe. And I think at best we hurry along, my good fellow.

Ho, wither away! It would never do to have a spoiled king and princess and a bad horse and elephant on your hands. Oh, if you'd only wear our boxes, begged Chilliwala, almost ready to cry at the prospect of his visitors, spoiling on the premises. Then as Cabompo shook his hat again, The big boxer started off at a rapid shuffle, anxious to have them out of the woods as soon

as possible. Thun, during all this conversation, had been kicking and bucking underneath his iron box, but now Plenetti tapped out a reassuring message with her staff and the thundercoat quietened down. On the whole, he behaved rather well, following the signals his little mistress tapped out, pushing the iron box along without too much discomfort or complaint, though occasional indignant and fiery protests came puffing out of his iron container. Randy considered the journey through the boxwood one of their gayest and most entertaining

adventures. The woodman, in their brightly decorated boxes, shuffled cheerfully along beside them, stopping now in them to point with pride to the square box-like dwellings, set at regular intervals under the spreading boxwood trees. The whole forest was covered by an enormous wooden box that shut out the sky and gave everything an artificial unreal look. It was in one side of this monster box that Thun had burned the hole to admit them. Randy and Plenetti, riding sociably together on Cabompo's back,

picked boxes from branches of all the trees they could reach, and it was such fun and so exciting. They paid scarcely attention to the remarks of Chilliwala. Even the elegant elephant snapped off a box or two and handed them back to his royal writers. Oh, look, exulted Randy, opening a bright blue cardboard box. This is just full of chocolate candy. Oh, throw that trash away, advised Chilliwala contemptuously. We think nothing of the stuff that grows inside.

It's the boxes themselves we are after." "'But this candy is good,' objected Randy, after sampling several pieces. "'And mind you, Kabumpo, Blanetti has just picked a jewel box full of real chains, rings, and bracelets. "'Oh, they are netiful, netiful!' crooned the princess of another planet, hugging the velvet jewel box to her breast. "'Keep them, if you wish,' snobled. Sillywala. But they're just rubbish to us. When we pick boxes, we toss the contents away." "'Now that's plain foolishness,' snorted Cabompo, aghast at such a waste. As Randy picked a pencil

box full of neatly sharpened pencils, and Plenetti'd a tidy sewing kit fitted out with scissors, needles, and spools of thread. The thimble was not quite ripe, but as Plenetti had never stitched a stitch in her royal life, she did not notice nor care about that. Indeed, before they came to the other side of the boxwood, she and Randy were sitting in the midst of a high heap of their treasures, and Cabompo looked as if he were making a lengthy safari loaded up and down for the journey. Randy had stuffed most of the boxes into big net bags Cabompo always brought along from emergencies, and these he tied to the elegant elephants harness. There were bread boxes packed with tiny loaves and biscuits,

cake boxes stuffed with sugar buns and cookies, stamp boxes, flower boxes, glove boxes, coat and suit boxes. Last of all, Randy picked a band box, and it played such gay tunes when he lifted the lid. Planet T. clapped her silver hands, and even Kabumpo began to hum under his breath. Traveling through the boxwood with kind-hearted chiliwala was more like a surprise party than anything else. To Planeti, it was all so delightful. She began to wonder how she had ever been satisfied with her life on another planet. Are all the countries down here as different and happy as this, she asked, fingering the necklace she had taken from the jewel box?

All our countries are grailing and saying, No birds sing, no flowers grow, and people are all the same. Oh, just wait till you've been to Oz! exclaimed Randy, shutting the bandbox so he could talk better. Oz countries are even more surprising than this, and wait till you've seen Ev and Janike's red-glass castle. You'll never reach it, predicted Chilliwala, shaking his hat-box gloomily. You'll spoil in a few hours now. especially the big one, loaded down with all that stuff and rubbish.

Throw it away, he begged, looking so sorrowful. Randy was afraid he was going to burst out crying. Toss out that rubbish and wear our boxes before it is too late. Rubbish. Randy shook his finger reprovingly at the boxer. Why, all these things are terribly nice and useful. If we go through enemy countries, we can't placate the natives with cakes and cigars. And if we go through friendly countries, we'll use

the suits and flowers and candy for gifts. Really, you've been a great help to us, Mr. Chilliwalla, and if you ever come to regalia, you may have anything in my castle you wish. Are there any boxes in your castle?" Chilliwala peered up at Randy through the slits in his hat-box. Not many, admitted Randy truthfully. You see, In my country, we keep the contents and throw the boxes away." "'Throw the boxes away?' gasped Chiliwala, jumping three times into the air. "'Oh, you rogues, you rascals, you, boxables, lefters, writers, boxers all. Here, here at once, have at these box-destroying savages.'

"'Now see what you've done,' mourned Kabumpo. as hundreds of the boxers, heating Chilliwala's call, darted out of their dwellings and came leaping from behind the box bushes and trees. You started a war, that's what. Box them, box them good, shrieked Shriot Shiliwala, raining harmless blows on Kabumpo's trunk with his boxed fists. A hundred more boxed both thun and the elegant elephant from the rear, and so loud and angry were their cries, Plenetti covered her ears.

"'Too bad we have to leave when everything was so pleasant,' weased Cabompo. "'But never mind. Here's the other side of the boxwood. Flatten out youngsters, and I'll bump through.' And bump through he did. With such a splintering of boards it sounded like an explosion of cannon-crackers. Thun, at three taps from Plannetti, bumped after him, and before the boxers realized what was happening, they were far away from there. "'I'll soon have that box off you,' panted Cabompo.

And putting his trunk under Thun's iron box, he heaved it up in short order, screaming shrilly as he did so, for the Thundercoat's breath had made the metal uncomfortably hot. I thank you, great and mighty master. Thun sent the words up in a perfect shower of sparks. Let us be gone from these noxious boxers. Oh, they're not so bad, mused Randy, as Plenetti signaled for Thun to go left. Just peculiar.

Imagine keeping the boxes and throwing away all the lovely things inside, and imagine a country where everything grows in boxes, he added, standing up to wave at Chilliwala and his square-headed comrades, who were looking angrily through the break in the side of their wall. "'Good-bye!' he called it clearly. "'Good-bye, Chilliwala, and thanks for the presence.' "'Boxables!' hissed the boxer-chief and his men, shaking their fists furiously at the departing visitors. "'And that makes us no better than cannibals, I suppose.'

grunted Kabumpo, looking rather wearily at the stretch of forest ahead. He had rather hoped to find himself an open country. End of Chapter 9. Chapter 10 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 10. Night in the Forest All afternoon, the four travelers moved through the Ixian Forest,

Planetti exclaiming over the flowers, ferns, and bright birds that flitted from tree to tree. Thun, sending up frequent high-flown sentences, Kamumpo and Randy looking rather anxiously for some landmark that would prove they were on the road to Ev. As it grew darker, the elegant elephant wisely decided to make camp, stopping in a small, tidy clearing for that purpose. As Kabumpo swung to an impressive halt, Randy slid to the ground, pulling the net bags with him, and began to sort out the boxes containing food. Then he quickly gathered some faggots for a fire, as the night was raw and chilly,

and had Plenetti signal Thun to breathe on the wood. Thun only too happy to be of some use, quickly lighted the campfire, and he and the little princess watched curiously while Randy prepared his own and Cabompo's supper. making coffee in a tin box, with some water kabumpo had fetched in his collapsible canvas bucket. The elegant elephant did rather well with the contents of seven cake-boxes and four bread and cereal containers, and Randy found so many good things to eat among Chilliwala's presence, he felt sorry not being able to share them with Plenetti or Thun. It would be more fun if you ate too, he observed, looking down sideways and,

at the little princess, who was sitting on a boulder, hands clasped about her knees, while she gazed contentedly up at the stars. Would it? Planetti smiled faintly, tapping her silver heels against the rock. This seems night enough, she sighed, stretching up her arms luxuriantly, but now it is time to ret. Slipping off her long metal cape, the princess of another planet tossed one end against a white birch and the other to a tall pine.

To Randy's surprise, the ends of the cape instantly attached themselves to the tree, making a soft, flexible hammock. Into this, Plenetti climbed with utmost ease and satisfaction. Good net, Randy, and Big Bumpo dear, she calls softly. Take care of Thun. I've told him to stay where he is till the earling, so he will, he will. With a smile, Planetti closed her bright eyes, and the wind swaying her silver hammock soon rocked her to sleep.

It had been a long day, and Randy felt very drowsy himself. Walking over to the thundercult he turned his head so that his fiery breath would fall harmlessly on a cluster of damp rocks. He was pleased to find this steed from another planet so obedient and gentle, though formed of some live and lively black metal. Thun was soft and satiny to the touch, and seemed to enjoy having his ear scratched and his neck rubbed as much as any ordinary horse. "'Tap me twice on the shoulder if ought occurs, Slandy!' he signaled, blowing the words out lazily between Randy's pets. And good net to you, my nazis, good net.

That language is just full of foolishness, sniffed Cabompo. spreading a blanket on the ground for Randy, and then stretching himself full length beneath a beech tree. Put out the fire, Nauzee, my lad. The creature's breath makes light enough to frighten off any wild men or monsters. Oh, I don't believe there are any wild beasts or savages in this forest, Randy said, stamping out the embers of the campfire. It's too quiet and peaceful.

I have an idea we're almost across Ix and will reach Ev by Mee. morning. What do you think, Cabompo?" Cabompo made no answer, for the elegant elephant had stopped thinking and was already comfortably a snore. So, with a terrific yawn, Randy wrapped himself in the blanket, and, curling up close to his big and faithful comrade, fell into an instant and pleasant slumber. Morning came all too soon, and Randy was rudely awakened by Cabompo, who was shaking him violently by the shoulders. "'Come on, come on,'

blustered the elegant elephant impatiently. "'Stir out of it, my boy. We've all been up for hours. Is it proper to lie a bed and let a princess light the fire?' "'She didn't.' Sitting bolt upright, Randy saw that Plenetti with Thun's help

actually had lighted a fire and set water to borrow in the tin box just as he had done the evening before. Oh, my goodness, goodness, Plenetti, you mustn't do that rough work, he exclaimed, hurrying over to take the big cake box from Plenetti's hands. Why not, beamed the little princess, hugging the box close. See, I have found the great Chaco Nut Cake for Big Bumpo to eat. I mean neat.

Aha, Chaco Nut Cake. Gabumpo swayed merrily from side to side. Very neat, my dear. If there's one thing I love for breakfast, it's chaco nut cake. Laughing so he could hardly keep his balance. Camompo held out his trunk for the cake-box. What a splendid little castle-keeper you'll make for some young king, Netty, my child. Nettie? Is that now my name? Plenetti pushed back her flying cloud of hair with an interested sniff.

If you like it, said Randy. His ear's turning quite red at Cabomone. some post teasing remarks. Leading the little princess to a flat rock, he sat her down with great ceremony and then began opening up boxes of crackers and fruit. "'Nettie's a night name,' declared the princess, her head thoughtfully on one side. "'I must tell fun.' Skipping over to the thunder-cult, who with drooping head and tail was enjoying a little coltnap.

She tapped out her new nickname in the strange code she used when talking to him. "'No longer Planetti of another planet,' flashed Thun, awake in a twinkling and sending up his message in a shower of sparks. But Annetti of Oz. "'At least he's left off the inn,' mumbled Kabumpo, speaking thickly through the coconut cake, which he had tossed whole into his capacious mouth. "'Sound rather well, don't you think?' "'Wonderful,' agreed Randy, who could scarcely keep his eyes. off the sparkling little princess.

"'It's too bad she's not like us, Cabompo. Then she could go back to Oz and stay there always.' "'If she were like us, she wouldn't be so interesting,' said Cabompo, shaking his head judiciously. "'Besides, down here the poor child is completely out of her element and liable to disintegrate or suffocate or ev knows what.' He went on, discarding a box of prunes for a carton of tea. How was the cake? Randy changed the subject, for he could not bear to think of Plenetti

in danger of any sort. Stale, announced Cabompo, making a wry face as he swallowed some tea leaves. I'll certainly be glad to catch up with some regular elephant food. This eating bits out of boxes is diabolical, simply diabolical. Here, give me those crackers and eat some of that other stuff. And look at little Nutty Ann. was you, shaking out that blanket as if she'd been traveling with us for years. Why, the last is a born housewife.

And isn't she pretty? Smile, Randy, waving to Plenetti, as he began packing the boxes in the net-bags again and stamping out the fire. I wonder what is like up where she lives, Cabompo. Why not ask her? Swinging up his saddle-sacks, Cabompo called gaily to the little princess, who came running over, the blanket neatly folded on her arm. Thank you, Nettie. You are certainly a great help to us.

Taking the blanket and giving her an approving pat on the shoulder, Randy caught hold of Kamumpo's belt strap and pulled himself easily aloft. All ready to go? Plenetti nodded cheerfully as she mounted the thunder colt. Will this lightning be as night as the last? She demanded, tapping Thun, gently with her. her staff? "'Nicer,' promised Randy. As Thun pranced merrily ahead, Plenetti's long cape billowing like a silver cloud behind them. "'What do you do when you're at home?'

called Randy, as Cabompo, giving two short trumpets, followed close on the heels of the thundercult. "'Home?' Planetti turned a frankly puzzled face. "'I mean, do you have a house or a castle?' persisted Randy, determined to have the matter settled in his mind once for all. Do you have brothers and sisters, and is your father a king? No house, no castle, know those other words, answered Plenetti, an even greater bewilderment. On another planet each is to herself or himself alone. One floats, rides, skips, or drifts through the leading heights and lowlands, hanging the cape where one happens to be.

Regular gypsies, murmured Kabumpo under his breath. So nobody belongs to nobody and nobody has anybody. Sounds kind of crazy to me. Yes, if you have no families, no fathers or mothers. Randy was plainly distressed by such a country in existence. I don't see how you came to be at all. We rise full-grown from our vanadium springs, and naturally I have my own spring.

"'Is that then my father?' "'Tell her yes,' hissed Kabumpo between his tusks. "'Why mix her all up with our way of doing things? If she wants a spring for a father, let her have it.' Cabompo waved his trunk largely. "'Ho, ho, hem, I've always thought of springs as a cure for rheumatism, but live and learn, eh, Randy, live and learn.' Randy paid small attention to the elegant elephant's asides.

He was too busy explaining life as it was lived in Oz to Plenetti, making it all so bright and fascinating the eyes of the little princess fairly sparkled with interest and envy. "'I think I will not go with you to this wizard of Ev,' she announced, and a small voice as the young king paused for breath. "'I do not believe I shall like that old wizard or his castle.' Touching Thun with her staff, Plenetti turned the thundercote sideways and went zigzagging so rapidly through the trees they almost lost sight of her entirely.

"'Now what?' stormed the elegant elephant, charging recklessly after her through the forest. "'What's come over the little nitwit? Come back, come back, you foolish girl!' he trumpeted anxiously. "'We'll take you to Oz after you've been to Ev,' he added with a sudden, burst of comprehension. At Cabompo's promise, Plenetti have turned on her charger. But this Wizard of Ev will send us back to another planet. It is yourself that has said so.

No, no, we just said that he would help you, shouted Randy, leaning forward and waving both arms for Plenetti to turn back. Oh, you really must see, Genaqui, he begged earnestly. Without his magic you cannot live away from that Vanity. spring. Do you want to be stiff and still as a statue for the rest of your days? I'd rather be a statue down here with you and Bumpo, where the birds sing and the flowers grow, and the woods are green and wonderful, than to be a live princess of another planet, sighed the metal maiden, hiding her face in Thun's mane.

"'You would!' cried Randy, almost falling off the elephant, in his extreme joy and excitement. Then you shall. And Geniki will change everything so you can live down here always and come back to Oz with Gabumpo and me. Would you like that, Plenetti? Oh, that would be netiful, clasping thun with both arms. The little princess laid her soft cheek against his neck. Netiful. Then ride on, princess, right on. Cabompo spoke gruffly, for his feelings at quaint overcome him. Toss me a kerchief, will you, Randy? He gulped desperately. Oh, boo-hoo, kursniff, to think she really likes us that much. Do you think she'd hear if I blew my trunk? No, no, she's way ahead of us now, whispered Randy, handing an enormous handkerchief down

to Kabumpo, after taking a sly wipe on it himself. Oh, isn't this a gorgeous day, Kabumpo? And isn't everything turning out splendidly? And see here, we actually come to the end of the forest. End of chapter 10. Chapter 11 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre-Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 11. The Field of Feathers.

Good Gapers! Everything's pink! Marveled Randy, as Cabompo, still muttering and snuffling, pushed his way through the last fringe of forest. So now we're in the pink, eh? With a last convulsive snort, Kabompo stuffed the handkerchief into a lower pocket, and trumpeted three times for a thun to halt.

Are those flowers, do you suppose? May I see one of them, my dear? Catching up with the little princess, who was already on the edge of the field, Kabumpo took the long spray she had picked and passed it back to Randy. My goodness, it's a feather, the largest and finest I've ever seen, Randy said in surprise. Hey, I always thought feathers grew on birds. Yet here's a whole field of feathers, Kamumpo.

Imagine that. And taller than I am, too. Well, there's no harm in feathers, observed Kabumpo jocularly. "'Pick a plume for your bonnet, my dear. The girls in our countries adorn themselves with these pretty fripperies. I've even worn them myself at court functions,' he admitted self-consciously. "'But do you think you can hold the colts head up as we go through? Burnt feathers smell rather awful, and we don't wish to anger the owner or spoil his crop.'

"'It was rather like plowing through a wheat-field,' decided Randy. As Cabompo, treading lightly as he could, stepped after Thun. It was, though, more like a sea of waving plumes, endlessly bending, nodding, and rippling in the wind. Plenetti gathered armfuls of these bright and newest treasures, liking them almost as much as the flowers in the forest. Thun, for his part, found the whole experience irksome in the extreme. These pink feathers give me the big pain in the neck, he puffed up indignantly,

as he trotted along with his head in the air. Plenetti, reading his message with a little smile, was astonished to hear a series of roars and explosions behind her. Surely Thun's remarks were not as funny as all that. Turning round, she was shocked to see Kabo swaying and stumbling in a his tracks, coughing and spluttering and torn by such gigantic guffaws, he had already shaken Randy from his back. The young king himself rolled and twisted on the ground, fairly gasping for breath.

It's the feathers, he gasped weakly, as Plenetti, leaping off the thundercult, ran back to investigate. They're tickling us to death. Get away quickly, Nettie dear. before they get you. Oh, ha, ha, oh, oh, quick, before it is too late. Oh, hi, hi, hi, I shall die laughing. To the startled little princess he appeared to be dying already.

No, no, please not, she cried, dropping her arm full of feathers. With surprising strength, she jerked Randy upright, and, in spite of his continued roars and wild writhing, managed to fling him across Thun's back. Now Camompo was down, kicking and rolling hysterically. It seemed to Plenetti that the feathers were wickedly alive and tickling them on purpose. They tossed, swayed, and brushed against her and Thun, too,

but having no effect on the metallic skin of the nuthers, curled away in distaste. "'Stop, stop, stop, I hate you!' screamed Plenetti, stamping on the bunch she had picked a moment before, then struggling in vain to pull Cabompo up by his trunk. "'Thun, Thun! What shall we do?' Racing back to the thundercult, Plenetti tapped out all that was happening to their best and only friends,

holding the convulsions and still laughing Randy in place with one hand as she did so. Thun, from anxious glances over his shoulder, had guessed more than half the difficulty. Search in Kabumpity's pocket for something to tie round him, so I may pull him out of the feathers. Flash the thunder-cult, swinging in a circle to prance and stamp on the plumes,

still curling down to tickle the helpless boy on his back. Feeling in Kabumpo's pockets as he tossed and lashed about was hard enough. But Plannetti, who was quick and clever, soon found a long, stout, heavily linked gold chain. Camompo twisted round and round his deck on important occasions. Slipping the chain through his belt, the little princess clasped the other ends round the thunder-cult chest, making a strong and splendid harness. Then, mounting quickly and holding desperately to Randy, Plenetti gave the signal for thund to start.

and away through the deadly field charged the night-black steed, burning feathers left and right with his flashing breath, and dragging Camumpo along as easily as if he had been a sack of potatoes instead of a two-ton elephant. The feathers bending beneath made the going soft so that the elegant elephant did not suffer so much as a scratch. And then Thun galloped so swiftly that in less than ten minutes, they had reached the other side of the beautiful but treacherous field. Going half a mile beyond, Thun came to an anxious halt.

The golden chain falling slack around his ankles, while Plenetti jumped down to see how Cabompo was doing now. The elegant elephant had stopped laughing, but his eyes still rolled and his muscles still twitched and rippled from the terrible tickling he had endured. Randy, exhausted and weak, hung like a dummy stuffed with straw over the thunder-coats back. "'Oh, we were too late, too long,' mourned Plenetti, wringing her hands and running distractedly between the elegant elephant and the insensible king.

"'Oh, my netness! They will become stiff and still as nuthers deprived of their springs.' she tapped out dolefully to thun. Do not be too sure. The thundercult puffed out his message slowly. See, already the big gabbumpity is trying to rise. And such indeed was the case. Astonished and mortified to find himself stretched on the ground in broad daylight and still too confused to realize what had happened.

The elegant elephant lurched to his feet and stood blinking uncertainly around. Then his eyes suddenly, coming into proper focus, he caught sight of Randy, lying limply across the thundercult. "'What in Oz? What in Ix? What in Eve is the matter here?' He panted, wobbling dizzily over to Thun. "'Fathers!' sighed Plenetti. clasping both arms round Cabompo's trunk, and beginning to pat and smooth its wrinkled surface.

The feathers tickled you and you fell down, my poor Bumpo. Randy, too, was almost laughed to death. What does death mean? Plenetti looked up anxiously into his eyes. Great Gump, so that was it. Great Gillikins, I remember now. We were both nearly tickled to death. and it was awful, awful.

Not that Ozians ever do die, he explained hastily. But, after all, we are not in Oz, and anything might have happened. But what I'd like to know is how whenever we ever got out of those feathers. Thun pulled you out, Plenetti told him proudly. And look, look, Bumpo dear, Randy is going to awaken, too. Randy, do you hear that? Kabumpo lifted the young king down and shook him gently backward and forward. This colt of Planetes, this thundercult, all by himself, mind you, pulled us out of that

infernal feather field. You and me, but mostly me. Now tell me how did he manage to pull an elephant all that way? Randy, only half comprehending what Gabumpo was saying, said nothing. But Thun, guessing Kabumpo's question, threw back his head and puffed quickly. We nuthers are strong as iron, master, strong for ourselves, strong for our friends. Thun, the thundercult, will always be strong for Kabumpti. Strong? Strong? Why, you're marvelous, gasped the elegant elephant.

Placing Randy on the ground, he fished jewels from his pocket with a reckless trunk till he found a band of pearls to fit thun. Then, carelessly risking the sparks from the thunder colt's nostrils, he fastened the pearls in place. "'Tell him, tell him, thanks,' he blurted out breathlessly. Tell him from now on, we are friends and equals, friends and warriors together.' With a pleased nod, Planetti translated for Thun, and the delighted colt, tossing his flying mane, raced round and round his three comrades, filling the air with high-flown and flaming

sentences. "'Friends and warriors,' he herald, rearing joyously. "'Friends and warriors!' By this time, Randy had recovered his breath and his memory, and felt not only able but impatient to continue the journey. The field of feathers could still be seen waving pink and provokingly in the distance, but without one backward glance the four travelers set their faces to the north. A few of Chilliwalla's boxes had been crushed while Cabombo rolled in the feathers, and

he and Randy still felt weak and worn from their dreadful experience, but these were small matters, they considered the dreadful fate they had escaped through the quick action of Planetti and Thun. I always thought of Ix as a pleasant country, sighed Randy, as Cabompo moved slowly along a shady by-path. I don't believe this is Ix, stated the elegant elephant bluntly. The air is different, smells salty, and this sandy road looks as if we might be near the sea. I think myself that we've come north by east through Ix into Ev, and will reach the nonastic ocean by evening. Camompo paused to peer up at a rough board nailed to a pine.

So you got through the feathers, did you? Sneered the notice in threatening red letters. Then so much the worse for you. Beware. Watch out. "'Gludwig the Glouberus has his eye on you.' "'Globerus?' sniffed Cabompo, "'elevating his trunk scornfully as Randy read and re-read the impertinent message.

"'I don't recall anyone named Glutwig, do you?' "' Sounds rather awful, doesn't it?' whispered Randy, "'sliding to the ground to examine the billboard from all sides. "'Say, look here, Cabo. "'There's something on the back.' It's been scratched out with red chalk, but I can still read it." "'Then read it,' advised Kabumbo briefly. "'This is the land of Ev. Everybody welcome.

Take this road to the castle of the Red Gin.' "'Oh, that means we're almost there,' exulted the young king. But his joy evaporated quickly as he re-read the other side of the board. Looks as if someone had switched signs on Genkeke. he muttered, pushing back his crown with a little whistle. "'Do you think anything has happened to him?' "'Probably some mischievous country boy, trying out his chalk,' answered the elegant elephant, not believing one of his own words.

"'Straight on, my dear,' he called cheerfully to Plainetti, who had pulled in the colt and was looking questioningly back at them. At least we are in the land of Ev, and just ahead lies the castle of our wish. "'Oh, Bumpo, how night!' Planetti hugged herself from pure joy. "'I've never seen a castle. I've never seen a wizard.' But Cabompo, worried Randy, as the little princess of another planet galloped gaily out of him, suppose this glutwig really has his eye on us. Suppose he rushes out before we can reach Janike's castle?

Well, that will not be very night, will it? The elegant elephant spoke ruefully. But what can we do? Are we going to stop for a mere sign? No, declared Randy, feeling about for his sword. Of course not. But I'll wager a Williken. He was the fellow who planted those feathers.

Very likely, agreed Cabompo, pushing grimly along through the sand. End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of the Silver Princess and Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 12. Arrival at the Castle of the Red Gin. The further they traveled into Ev, the more interesting the country became to Plenetti and Thun.

Now wild orange and lemon trees added their sons. spicy tang to the salty air, waving palms edged the sandy roadway, and after traversing a grove of lordly coconut trees, the four suddenly found themselves facing the great green rolling non-nestic. "'A spring!' caroled Plenity, galloping sun down to the water's edge. "'Oh, never have I seen such a netiful spring!' "'Not a spring, princess.' an ocean, corrected Kabumpo, ambling good-naturedly after Thun.

This is a salt-salt sea, full of ships, sailors, shells, crabs, islands, fish and fishermen. And will I see all of them? Slipping from Thun's back, Plenetti waded out a little way, hopping gleefully over the edges of the smaller waves. Sometime, promised Randy, dismounting half. hastily to keep her from venturing too far. Look over your shoulder, Netty, he urged, drawing her back toward shore. And then tell me what you think.

Explaining this gay, wide, and wonderful world to the little princess of another planet, Randy found more fun than anything he had ever done or imagined. Tense with expectation, he and Cabompo watched as Plenetti gazed off to the right. Why, tis a high, high hill of red that glitters, or what? What is it?" Planety world thun round, so he could see to. "'It's a castle Malaz,' Cabompo swaggered down the beach, as if he alone were responsible for all the splendor and magnificence.

There you see the imperial palace of the Wizard of Ev, built from turret to cellar, of finest red glass studded with rubies, and there, this night, we will be suitably entertained by Geniecky himself. The inside's even better than the outside, Randy whispered in Plannetti's ear, as she tapped out this astonishing news to the thundercote. Come on, come on, it's not more than a mile, and we can go straight along the edge of the seashore. Say, weren't we lucky not to run into Gluckethor? Budwig. Pulling himself up on Cabompo's back, Randy spoke the word softly. It would have been

too bad to have the first person outside of ourselves that Plenetti met turn out a villain. I believe that sign was a joke. Well, everything seems all right so far, admitted the elegant elephant guardedly. But keep your eyes open, my boy, keep your eyes open. Is that a little? welcome committee marching along the beach, or is it an army?" "'They're still too far away to tell,' answered Randy. "'Looks to me like all Genokees, blacks. I can see their baggy red trousers and turbans.'

"'Yes, but what's that gleaming in the sunlight?' demanded Kaboompo, curling up his trunk uneasily. "'Only their cemeteres,' Randy said, standing up to have a better view. Each man is carrying a cemetery over his shoulder, but that's perfectly all right. They're probably parading for our benefit. Hmm, sometimes things are not with a cemetery, sniffed Kabumpo, snapping his eyes suspiciously. But Randy, paying no attention to the elegant elephant's remark, was feeling round in the netbags for Chili Walla's bandbox, and next moment the lively strains of a military march filled the air.

Swinging along in time to the music, Kabumpo peered sharply at the oncoming host for signs of Alibble or Ginger, the slave of the bill, or some of Genoke's other old and trusted counselors. But in all that great thong, there was no one familiar face, and because he was beginning to feel more than a bit worried, Kabumpo lifted his feet higher and higher. "'Everything looks black, very black,' he muttered dubiously. "'Why not?' cried Randy, waving his arms like a bandmaster.

"'They're all as black as the ace of spades. Mind you, Plenetti. It takes all these black men to take care of Genaqui and his castle.' "'And will they take care of us?' Plenetti eyed the marchers with positive. amazement and alarm. So many, she murmured in a hushed voice. So black.

I thought everyone down here would be like you and Bumpo. I know, Randy told her complacently. Everyone is liable to be different. I believe I'll toss out some of Chiliwalla's boxes. Visitors should come bearing presents, you know. Hastily Randy began pulling out boxes of candy. boxes of cigarettes, beads, cigars, and whole suits of clothing to dazzle Genoqui's subjects. But when the leader of the procession came within ten feet of the travelers, he threw back his

head and emitted such a blood-curdling howl, Randy's hair rose on his head, and as the rest of the blacks brandishing cemeteres and yelling threats and imprecations came leaping toward them, the desperate young king began hurling down boxes as if they were bombs. He caught the headman on the chin with the bandbox, but while it stopped the music, it did not stop the gigantic Evian from slashing a thun. As his cemeter fell, Kabumpo gave a trumpet that felled the whole front rank of the enemy, and snatching up the villain in his trunk,

he hurled him back among his men. "'Is this taking care of us?' shuddered Plenetti, clasping her arms round the neck of the plunging thundercult. "'Oh, no, my goodness, no! Is Thun hurt? Quick, Kabumpo!' screamed Randy as a second scimitar slashed down on Thun's flank. Then he managed to breathe again, for the razor-sharp weapon glanced harmlessly off the metal coat of Plenetti's coal-black charger. The wielder of the cemetery, however, did not escape so easily, for a hot blast from Thun's nostrils sent him reeling backward.

"'That's it. Give it to them! Give it to them!' shouted Randy, forgetting in his excitement that Thun could not hear. And he himself hurled Chilliwalla's boxes hard and viciously, and one after the other. As for Cabompo, every time he raised his trunk, there was a black man in it, and as fast as they came, he slung them over his shoulder. But it was Planeti who really turned the tide of battle. While Randy, who had exhausted his supply of boxes, was digging desperately in Cabompo's pockets for some more missiles, he heard a perfect chorus of terrified screeches. Popping up with an umbrella and an alarm clock, he saw the princess of another planet,

standing erect on the galloping cold speck, calmly and precisely casting her staff at the foe. Each time the staff struck, the victim, in whatever attitude he happened to be, was frozen into a motionless metal figure. After each stroke, the staff returned to Plenetti's hand. "'Yah, yama, master!' The wailed of frantic blacks who were still able to move, and tumbling over one another in their effort to escape,

they fled wildly back to the Red Castle, leaving behind sixty of their vanquished brethren. "'Yo, you, you'll be sorry for this!' shouted the headman, tearing off his turban and waving it as he ran. "'So will you,' bellowed Cabompo fiercely. "'Just wait till Genaqui hears about this. How dare you treat his visitors in this violent, wicked fashion? Ginicky, Ginnyky! jeered the headsman as Plinetti aimed her staff threateningly at his back.

Geniki is at the bottom of the sea. Huh, uh-hum, I know it, I know it, groaned the elegant elephant, as the headman reached the palace and skittered wildly up the glass steps. I knew something was wrong. wrong the moment I saw those cemeter's. Geniki gone? Geniki at the bottom of the sea? Why, I just can't believe it.

Randy, glancing over his shoulder at the tumbling on Estick, looked almost ready to cry. Then, putting back his shoulders, he declared fiercely, Well, I'm not going off and leave this old pirate in Geniekees' castle, are you? It must be Glutwig's doing all this. Let's go inside and throw him out of there. We have lots of help now. Thun's a regular flamethrower, and Plenetti's worth a whole army.

And best of all, nothing can hurt them. Why didn't you tell me you had a magic staff? Randy looked admiringly down at the resolute little princess at his side. Why, with that staff we can conquer anybody. "'Is that what you call the magic?' Plenetti regarded her staff with new interest. "'It certainly is,' panted Cabompo, fanny himself with a handy palm leaf. "'And we're mighty sorry to have gotten you into all this danger and trouble, my dear.

"'Looks as if we had a war on our hands instead of a pleasant vacation.' "'Oh, that, it's nothing, nothing!' Plenetti shrugged her shoulders eloquently. "'On our planet, we too have the same. the bad beasts and others. And when they try to hit or bite us, we just subdue them with our voril staffs. "'Hum! So I see!' Cabombo, still Fanny himself looked thoughtfully at Glutwick's petrified warriors. "'There must be a goodly bit of statuary on your planet, molasse.' "'Very many,' answered Plenetti soberly, polishing her staff on the end of her cape.

With a slight shudder, the elegant elephant turned from the fallen slaves, resolving then and there never to offend this pretty but powerful little metal maiden. Well, have these scoundrels dispersed and gone for good? inquired Thun, sending up his question in a cloud of black smoke. Restively pawing the ground, the thundercoat looked from one to the other, waiting for someone to enlighten him. Tell him they're gone, but for nobody's good. Wheezed Cabompo, who was still out of breath from the violence of the combat.

Tell him Glutwick the Gloobrius has destroyed the Wizard of Ev, and that we are now going into the castle to continue the battle. But where shall we start, sighed Randy, staring despondently up at the gay red palace, where he and Cabompo had been so royally entertained on their last visit. We'll start at the bottom of these steps, announced Kamumpo grimly, and mount on up to the top. Then we'll burst into the presence of this wretched wart and flaying him out of the window. But that won't help Genaqui if he's at the bottom of the sea, mourned Randy, trying to smile at Plenetti, who was busy tapping off instructions to Thun. Ha, but don't forget, Geniki's a wizard.

sniffed Cabompo, pulling in his belt a few inches, and nobody can keep a good wizard down. Besides, Cabompo dragged his robe a bit to the left and straightened his headpiece. Once inside that castle, we can use some of the Red Gin's own magic to help him. Magic? Why, of course I'd forgotten about that! Randy's face cleared and brightened, and seeing Plenetti and Thun so eager and not afraid beside him. He girded on his sword, and standing upright on Kabumpo's back, gave the signal to start. As they trod up the hundred red glass steps, they could hear windows and doors slamming, the patter of running feet, and the tinkle of the hundred glass chimes in

the tower. But step by step, and without a pause, Thun and Kabumpo mounted to the top. Beware, Beware, Gladwick the Gloobrius, Here march, Kabumpti and Thun, Slandy and Plenetti, Princess of another planet, Friends, Equals, and Warriors." The thundercote's flaming message, floating like a battle emblem in the air, alarmed the wicked occupant of Genoches' castle even more than the invaders themselves. but still confident of his power to vanquish all comers. He waited an evil anticipation for the moment when they would force their way into his presence.

Did they imagine because they had frightened a company of foolish slaves? They could frighten him? Ha ha! Crouched on the Red Jens throne and lapping mirthlessly, Gludwig rubbed his long hands up and down his skin. Guinea-nees. End of chapter 12. Chapter 13 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson.

This Libre-Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 13. Gludwick the Gloobrius. Wait! Hold on a minute! As they reached the huge double doors of the Red Castle, Randy tugged violently at Cabompo's left ear. For the elegant elephant, all humped together, was preparing to bump through.

Let Thun break down the door, directed the young king firmly. Thun is of metal, and the glass will not cut him. Then as soon as there is an opening we can follow. Will you tell him, Plenetti? Randy looked fondly down to the earnest little princess. And as soon as we are inside, he went on hurriedly. Flaying your staff at the first. person I point out to you. That I will, promised Plenetti with a brief nod, and giving Thun his orders, she galloped the thunder-cult straight at the glass doors. With a crash like the fall of a hundred trays of dishes, the glass doors shivered to bits.

Rushing through the flying splinters, Kamumpo and Thun raced together into the palace. How well Randy remembered this cozy throne room, its transparent red glass pillars and floors, its gay red lacquered furniture, its tinkling curtains of strung rubies, and the long line of enormous red faces leading up to the throne. But instead of the jolly little gin, encased in his own shining jar,

a long, like black man and a red wig lounged on the seat of state. He was smoking a tenuous red pipe. And, as Kamumpo and Thun came to an abrupt halt before him, he blinked wickedly out from under his bushy red lashes. Beside the red-wigged imposter, Randy noted with some relief, there was not another sole in sight. "'Well,' demanded Gludwig insolently, "'what do you hope to accomplish by this unwarranted intrusion?'

Taking his pipe out of his mouth, he blew a cloud of villainous black smoke into the faces of his visitors. So thick and sulfurous were the fumes, Randy and Kabumpa were rendered speechless. While they choked and spluttered, Plenetti, who did not seem aware of the smoke at all, gazed in wide-eyed delight around her. So this was a castle! How night! How netiful! Lost in wonder and admiration. The little princess forgot all about the stern purpose of their visit.

Off that throne! Off that throne! You wart! Rasped Kibumpo, clearing his throat with an ear-splitting trumpet. What have you done with Geno? You're no more a wizard than I am. You're as false. and crooked as your wig. Down with him, down with him, Randy. Let him repent of his wickedness in uttermost disgrace and debasement.

So, my downfall is the little plan. Speaking calmly, but trembling with fury at Cabompo's taunting speech, Gludwig rose. At the same instant, Randy, recovering his breath called desperately, Now, Plenetti, your staff, throw it straight at him. Oh, quickly. Thun's hot breath was already singing Ludwig's ankles. And, leaping over the throne, he crouched down like a great black panther behind it. Ha ha!

He shouted again, My downfall and debasement, is it? Well, try a bit of downfalling and a basement yourselves. Just as Plenetti, taking careful aim, hurled her gleaming staff. Gladwig pulled a tremendous lever in the wall beside him. Instantly the floor on the other side of the throne dropped down, slanting Cabompo, Thun, and both riders into the dark, damp, and long-un-un-un-un-used cellar of the castle. "'A trap-door!' raged the elegant elephant, coming down like a car,

a load of bricks. A trapped floor, you mean? gasped Randy, picking himself up with a painful grimace, for the jolt had sent him flying off the elephant. Thun had retained his balance, and neither he nor Plenetti seemed to mind the force of their landing. As they gazed angrily upward, the floor of the throne room swung noiselessly back into place, leaving the four prisoners to contemplate the

heavy glass beams and panels of its underside. "'Oh, that was the downfall, and this is debasement,' grunted Cabompo, sitting down furiously on an overturned wash-tub. "'Oh, great, Gump, I've never been so humiliated in my life. Don't cry, Plenetti,' he begged gruffly. "'We'll have you out of here in a pig's whistle.' "'It's not that, Bumpo, dear!' Plenetti buried her face in Thun's cloudy mane and sobbed bitterly.

It's my staff. It did not return after I flung it at the red-wigged one, and without it I have nothing, nothing. Good gallopers, Randy clapped his hand to his forehead as he realized the awful significance of Plenetti's disclosure. The floor tilted too quickly for it to return. return, and oh, Gabonpo, he wailed, almost forgetting he was a king and warrior. If Glutwig has that staff, what can we do? He can come down here and petrify us any time he

wants. We'll hide, gulped Cabompo, bounding off the wash-tub. With furious concentration, his small eyes roved round and round their glum. loomy prison. But you're so big, declared Randy, running over to comfort Planetti. I'll hide anyway, said Cabompo, who had no intention of spending the rest of his life as an iron elephant, nor of adorning the palace of Gludwig the Gloobrius as the mere image of himself. End of Chapter 13

Chapter 14 of the Sover Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 14. The slave of the magic dinner bell. How thankful Randy and Kabumpo were now for the thunder colt's fiery breath. Otherwise they would have been in almost complete darkness, as scarcely any light at all trickled down through the dark red glass of the cellar windows. And there was small danger of his setting Genochi's castle on fire, for the basement, like the rest of the palace, was constructed of thick plates of solid glass.

But here below, the glass was not bright and sparkling as it was above stairs. Cobwebs clung to the glass beams, dust powdered the floors, and round the walls in boxes and barrels stood the old or worn-out magic appliances of the red gin. There was no furnace in the cellar, for the castle was warmed in winter by a magic process of Genachy's own invention, and there were no doors or even a closet or cupboard where any of them could hide. With fun stepping ahead to act as a torch, the other is marched anxiously round the great gloomy, vault-like apartment.

No place to hide, no provisions, nothing to eat or drink, nothing! exclaimed the elegant elephant, sinking down on the wash-tub. That is, nothing to do but wait for. "'For destruction,' he concluded bitterly. "'Well, we're not destroyed yet,' declared Randy, sticking out his chin. "'Everything seems quiet above. Maybe Gludwig is not going to use Plenetti's staff till morning.' With a discouraged sniff, Cabompo began poking in the boxes behind him.

Finding one full of Excelsior, he started to stuff the choking material into his mouth with his drunk. Randy was sure the Excelsior would disagree with him, but when Kabumpo was in such a mood it was quite useless to argue with him, so, beckoning for Thun to light the way, he and Plon set out on a second tour of investigation. Randy paused dubiously before a collection of squat bottles and jugs. He was convinced they contained liquids or vapors powerful enough to help them, but the directions on the labels were all in season. some strange magician's code, and Randy hesitated to open even one of the magic bottles. Experience had taught him that a wizard's wares were dangerous, and he himself had seen the

red gin subdue whole armies by releasing incense from a blue jug. So, selecting two pockets-sized jars, to use only in case everything else failed, Randy moved on to the other side of the cellar. Here, on top of a chest, he discovered a small red handbag. Instead of the usual fastenings, two real hands formed the clasp, and when Randy opened the bag, it quickly jerked out of his grasp, and began springing all over the cellar on its hands, pouncing gleefully on papers and bottles, and stuffing them into its side pockets. It did look so comical, Plenetti burst into a Peel of merriment. Even Randy could not keep back a grin. It was a relief to see the little princess more like herself again, for, since the laws of her vorral staff, she had been

unnaturally quiet and sad. Wait, I'll catch it for you, offered Randy, dismissing for a moment all thought of the dreadful danger they were in. It must be one of Genoke's inventions. "'Look, Cabompo, a bag that really packs itself.' "'Watch out it doesn't pinch you,' warned Cabo morosely. He had already begun to regret the excelsior and was rumbling with indigestion. "'I was never one to hold with hand luggage myself.' "'Oh, yes, you were,' crowed Randy, falling on the bag as if it had been a football, and coming up triumphantly with it clutched to his middle.

"'You use your trunk for a hand, Kabumpo, and doesn't that make it hand luggage? "'He-he-he-he! Hooray! Never thought I'd make a joke in this dismal place.' "'It's a pretty dismal joke, if you ask me.' The elegant elephant heaved himself stiffly off the wash-tub. "'Keep it away from me,' he warned crossly, as Randy, paying no attention to the thumps of the handbag, managed to get it shut again. As soon as it was closed, the bag subsided and seemed absolutely unalive. Here, puffed Randy, holding it out to Plenetti.

This bag will pack itself, madam, and you can use it every time you go on a journey. Can I? How night! Planetti beamed at her young companion. Well, who's going on a journey? Inquired Cabompo sarcastically, walking up and down to relieve his indigestion? We'll probably spend the rest of our unnatural lives in this abominable basement. Say something, can't you? He shouted glaring at poor Thun. I can hardly see where I'm going. As fast as Plonetti translated this rude speech, the Thunder Colt sent up his answer.

If I said all the words I am thinking, puffed Thun temperously, this room would be very red-bright, Mr. Cabompo, very red-bright indeed. The Thundercult speech and his further remarks made Randy and Plenetti laugh again. Let's see what else we can find, proposed the young king. In spite of Cabompo's gloomy predictions, he was feeling more hopeful. Maybe this time we'll turn up something we can really use. Oh, maybe. Yes, maybe, yes, trilled Plenetti, slipping swiftly as quicksilver after Randy.

Passing by some dusty apparatus and an old spinning wheel, they discovered a huge red drum behind a pile of old trunks. These sticks were stuck through a cord to the side, and it was so heavy that the two between them could hardly carry it. But, giggling and puffing, they dragged it into the center of the cellar and dropped it down before Cabompo. See what we have now. Dusting off his clothes, Randy surveyed it proudly. Huh, a drum. The elegant elephant moved his ears forward and then back.

Well, what grumpy use is a drum? Am I in a parade? Do you expect me to beat it? Beat the drum? Plenetti looked surprised and she, shocked. Is that what a drum is for, Bumpo, dear? Well, yes, in a way. A bit ashamed of himself, Cabompo drew out one of the sticks. It goes like this, he said, raising the drumstick high in his trunk. Oh, no, Gabonpo, no, don't do that, or you'll have Glutwig down here. It would make too

much noise. What if it does? Cabompo shrugged his great shoulders. We may as well perish now as tomorrow. I'm perishing of hunger anyway." Before Randy could interfere, he brought the drumstick down with a thump that split the taut surface of the drum from edge to edge. The loud rip and bong made the rafters ring, and scarcely had they recovered from that shock, before a small black boy in an enormous turban sprang out of the drum itself and began sobbing and spluttering and hugging Cabompo as if he would never let him go. Good Gilligan's, it's Ginger, panted Randy, as Plenetti caught him anxiously by the sleeve.

It's the slave of the magic dinner bell. He can bring us dinners and whatever one wants when Genieky rings for him. Hi, who shut you up in that drum boy? That big old red wig, sniffed Ginger, drying his teeth. on Cabompo's robe. Oh, how can I ever thank you, Mr. Elephant, so elegant. I remember you. I remember him. The bell-boy jerked his thumb delightedly at Randy.

And many times, I thank you, 50 times 11. I thank you. You see, if I am shut up in a drum, it is impossible for me to answer the master's ring if he needs me. And he needs me now. I know it. I know it." "'But how can he call you unless he has the dinner bell?' asked Randy, edging closer.

"'Did Geniekey take the bell with him when—when—' To save himself, Randy could not finish the dismal sentence. "'When Gludwig pushed him into the sea, you mean?' Ginger's brown face puckered up again. But controlling his sobs with a great effort, he sat down on the edge of the drum and told them the whole story of Genochi's mischance and missed fortunes. The master, as you know, explained Ginger, his eyes rolling sideways, as he caught sight of Planetti and Thun, whose like he had never seen in his entire magic existence.

The master is always kind and jolly and unsuspecting. This glutwig was the manager of our ruby mines and one of Genike's most trusted officers. But all the time, this viper, this snake, this villainous black snake. Ginger clenched his fists and kicked his heels angrily against the drum, was planning to steal our Red Jen's throne and magic, in addition to his own splendid mansion and fortune. One evening, seven months ago, having trained his minors into an army of rebellion, Gludwig marched upon our castle and drove everybody out.

Everybody! The elegant elephant, picking Ginger up in his trunk, looked earnestly into his face. "'Every everybody!' repeated the little bell-boy, wagging his turban sorrowfully. "'Ali Bobble, the Grand Advisor, all the men. Members of the court and household were sent to the minds under the cruel rule of Globdo, Gludwig's brother, and they are there now, working without rest, hope, or reward. He marched the master to the head of the highest cliff, and pushed him violently into the sea with his own hands. Ginger began to tremble with grief and anger at the memory of it all.

He ordered the bandsmen to seal me up to this drum, knowing a drum is the only place from which I cannot escape, and hoping I would shrivel up and perish. But I, asserted the Little Black triumphantly, I am the best part of Genochi's magic, so he couldn't destroy me. A quick grin overspread Ginger's face. And he could not destroy my master either, of that I am sure. "'And now that the elephant so elegant has let me out? "'Now!' "'Now what?' breathed Randy. "'Almost afraid Ginger was not going to tell him.

"'You see, Ginger, we came to visit the Red Gin, "'and were immediately captured, "'and dumped down here ourselves. "'So how can we get out, and what can we do?' "'I'll think of something,' promised the bell-boy, wriggling out of Kabumpo's trunk, he scurried across the cellar and disappeared beneath an overturned wheelbarrow. "'So he will think of something,' sniffed Kabumpo, trying not to make it sound too sarcastic. Well, of course, that settles it, and while he is thinking I intend to take a nap.

I am completely worn out with all these vile plots and villainies. I, too, Wilret, decided Plenetti, reaching over to Pat the Thundercult. The strange excitement of the day had weary the little princess, and this last story of Ginger's had still further puzzled and distressed her. I never thought when I brought you here you'd have to sleep in a place like this, groaned Randy, glancing ruefully round the dingy basement. "'Oh, it's not so bad,' smiled the little princess. Slipping off her cape, she swung it casually between two grimy pillars,

and, with a handbag tucked under her arm, climbed contentedly into her silver bed. "'Good rat, Randy, and Bumpo dear,' she calls softly. "'I believe I shall ret for a long, long time.' "'Now what does she mean by the little? that, worried the young king, as the princess blew them each a wistful kiss. "'Some things wrong, Cabumpo. I feel it. And look, there at Thun! Why is he acting so strangely? Almost as if he could not see.' "'Look at him! Look at him!' wailed the elegant elephant.

"'Where is he? How can I? Is dark as thunder in here now?' Great grump, Randy. I can't see you, him or anything at all. Stumbling and tripping, he somehow crossed the cellar to the spot where he remembered Thun had been. Then as his trunk struck against hard, cold metal, he recoiled in horror. He's out, boned the elegant elephant hoarsely. He's not even breathing.

Why, he's cold and stiff as a stone. Oh, good Gump, the colt saved my life, and now what can I do for him? What'll we do, Randy? I say, what'll we do? Randy had no answer at all, for, moved by a dreadful foreboding. He leaned down to touch the face of the little princess of another planet, only to find it still and cold. No sparkling light radiated from planet. as quiet and motionless as a statue, she lay wrapped in her silver nets.

"'Ginger! Where are you? Ginger! Come help us!' Randy screamed desperately. Scambling out from under the barrow, the startled bell-bar reached Randy's side in a split second, for Ginger could see as well in the dark as in the daytime. "'Did Gladwick do this?' he panted, his eyes rolling wildly from. from Plannetti to the frozen thundercote. No, no, they are far from their own country, and need the powerful vanadium springs, groaned Cabompo, putting out his trunk to touch the little princess.

They cannot exist down here. And with Genaicke gone, who's to help them? His tears fell thick and fast on Plannetti's silver tresses. Then why do we stay here? shuddered Ginger, tucking at Randy's cloak and Cabompo's robe. Why do we stay? As if to answer Ginger's mournful cry, there was a long whistling rustle in the air, and next moment Randy, Ginger, Cabompo, and the princess of another planet were wafted

like feathers through the night, passing easily as mist through the narrow glass windows, up over the castle itself, and out over the silvery wall. moonlit sea. End of chapter 14. Chapter 15 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 15. Nonagon Island

The same afternoon the four travelers arrived at the Red Jens Castle, a lonely fisherman in an odd nine-sided dory pulled out from the Nonagond Island. This strange small nine-sided island lies about ninety leagues from the mainland of Ev. Flat, barren, and rocky. It affords but a meager living to the nine fishermen who are its sole inhabitants. Each keeps strictly to his own side of the island, subsisting frugally on fish and the few poor vegetables he can grow in his rocky little garden. Hard and unfriendly as their island.

itself. The nine nonogons go their own way, exchanging brief nods on the rare occasions when they meet one another. The habit of silence had so grown upon Bloth the fisherman in the nine-sided dory. He did not even talk to the cat who shared his rough dwelling, and accompanied him on all his fishing trips. And so accustomed was poor Nina to her gruff and taciturn master, that she expected nothing from him but on occasional kick or fishhead. Never sure which would be forthcoming she kept her green eyes watchfully upon him at all times. This afternoon she was certain it would be a fish head, and as Bluff reached the spot where he had set his nets, her tail began to wave gently and pleasant anticipation.

Bluff himself seemed a little less grim, for the net seemed quite heavy, and the net seemed quite heavy, and sure he had made a good haul, he began pulling on the lines. But when his net came wet and dripping over the side of the boat, he gave a grunt of anger. In it were only three small fish and an immense red jug. His first impulse was to toss the jug back into the sea. But reflecting glumly that he could use it to salt down fish for the winter, he rolled it into the bottom of the boat, and, kicking the disappointed cat out of the way, rode rapidly back to the island.

Stamping into his nine-sided shack with a net over his shoulder, Blough banged the jug down on the hearth, cleaned and cut up the fish, and popped them into a pot hung on a crane over the fire. Then, lighting his one poor lamp, he sat suddenly down to wait for his supper. The fishheads he flung cruelly into the hot ashes, and whenever he dozed for a moment, Nina tried to pull one out with her paw, for she knew full well she would get nothing else to eat. For perhaps an hour there was not a sound in the fisherman's hut, except the crackling of the driftwood in the grate and the hoarse breathing of the fisherman himself.

Then suddenly Nina, who had almost succeeded in dragging her supper from the flames, gave a frightened backward leap. Oh, my, mercy me, mercy me! Came a muffled but merry voice. Where, but where am I now? As Nina and her master turned startled eyes toward the red jug, for the voice was undoubtedly coming from the jug, the lid slowly lifted, and a round jolly face peered out at them.

What he saw was so discouraging, Geniecky, for of course it was Genie, dropped back out of sight. The magic fluid with which he had sealed himself in the jug before Glutwig hurled him into the sea had been melted by the warmth of the fisherman's fire, and the same warmth had restored the little red gin to his usual vigor and liveliness. In a sort of protective stupor he had managed to survive the long months at the bottom of the ocean. A quick thinker at all times, Genachy rapidly regained his senses and realized that once what had happened. A fortunate tide had carried him into this fisherman's net, and at last he was on dry land again, and now to find and face the villain who had usurped his

throne and castle. But why, why? groaned the little gin dolefully. With all the fishermen in the non-nestic ocean, did I have to be pulled out by this long-jawed fellow? Venturing another look, and at the same time thrusting his arms and legs out of their proper apertures in the jug, he saw that bluff had seized on an oar and seemed about ready to whack it down on his head. Non, non, my good fellow, puffed Geniecky, fixing his wrist, his rescuer with his bright glassy eye. Put up that oar. This is no battle, and I have much to say that will interest you.

But first of all, I want to thank you for pulling me out of the ocean. Hortily, heartily! A suitable reward will be sent to you as soon as I get back my castle. To this polite speech, Bluff paid no attention whatsoever. ever. But Nina, liking the pleasant voice of this curious visitor, began rubbing herself against his ankles. "'I am the Red Gin of Ev,' announced the little wizard, keeping a wary eye on the oar. At present banished from my castle by the treachery of a trusted officer. In fact, Genachy tapped himself smartly on the jug. The villain actually took everything I had and tossed

me into the sea. What's wrong with the sea? Inquired the fisherman, hoarsely. Never having seen anyone in his whole life but the eight other nonagon islanders, Bluff did not really believe what he saw. I'm asleep in having a nightmare, he concluded, grasping the oar more determinedly still. And we can hardly blame him for a fellow who's

body is a huge red vase into which he can draw his arms, legs, and head at will, is pretty hard for anyone to believe. Realizing he was getting nowhere, and that his grim and dour rescuer cared nothing about his troubles, past or present, Genenike decided to try another line. Perhaps you could tell me the name of this place and your own name," he murmured politely. I am Blough, my cat is Nina, and this is the Nanagon Island, announced the fisherman, frowning at the little wizard. Ah, a nine-sided island!

The Red Jen stretched his arms and hopped up and down to get the kinks out of his legs, and I see you have a nine-sided cottage and a cat with nine lives, Picking up poor skinny Nina, who was purring for the first time in her life, Genicki stroked her back thoughtfully as he counted the nine pieces of furniture in the Rood Hut, noted that it was nine o'clock and the ninth of May. But is nine my lucky number, he pondered wearily. Could this churlish fisherman ever be persuaded to sail him back to the mainland? Looking at Bluff out of the side of his eye, he very much doubted it.

Though Bluff had put down the oar, his manner was anything but cordial. Are there any other people on the island? asked Genaqui. More to keep up the conversation than because he really wanted to know. At his question, Bluff put back his head, and in a long sing-song voice, drawled Bluff, Bluff, Bluff, Bluff, Bluff, Bluff, Bluff, and both. Oh, my, mercy! At each name, Geniecky gave a little jump. And as Bluff came to the end of the list,

he seated himself gingerly on the edge of the bench and stared into the fire. What could he hope from such people? Then, suddenly, in the midst of his worries, he became aware of the fish chowder bubbling coolly on the crane, and realized at the same instant his enormous and devouring hunger. After all, you know, he had not eaten for seven months. Ah, he beamed, extending both arms toward his host, dinner! My dinner!

The two words were spoken so. So gruffly, Genie's heart fell with a loud clunk into his boots. Why, this was unbelievable. He, Genieke, the one and only wizard of Ev, to be flouted and insulted by a miserable fisherman, well, at least he could leave the fellow's miserable hut and try his luck with the other islanders. Reflecting sadly that a wizard without his magic is no better off than any of the other man. The Red Gin slid off the bench and started for the door, trying to walk in a calm and

dignified manner. But halfway there, a sharp grunt brought him up short. "'Aho, no you don't,' rast bluff, catching up with him in two strides. "'Where do you think you're going?' "'Stop. I need that jug to salt my fish. "'Here, give it to me.' "'Why, you miserable mullusk, don't you dare touch me?' panted the red gin, trying to beat off the fisherman with his puny hands. "'This jug is an important part of me.

Without my jug, I cannot live at all.' "'And do you think I care for that?' "'Sneared Bluff. "'You're just an old lobster in a pot to me. here, give me that jug. Seizing Geniecky by both arms, Bluff tried to shake him out of the jug. Nina, enraged at such barbarous treatment

of the only one who had ever been kind to her, proved an unexpected ally. Flying at the fisherman, she began to scratch and claw his face and hands so successfully Bluff had to drop Geniecki to grab the cat. The force of the drop sent the red gin rolling over and over, dislodging a small silver bell from a hidden pocket in his sleeve. As the bell fell tinkling to the flagstones, Janicki gave a bounce of relief. His magic dinner bell!

And up his sleeve all the time! How had he ever forgotten it? Oh, now, now, if just... Ginger had not been destroyed by Gludwick and just answered the bell, everything would be different. And Ginger did answer the bell, and everything was different. My yes, so different. Bluff threw the cat at Genokey and simply raced for the door, no wonder. In his small, nine-sided check were now an elephant carrying a silvery princess

in his trunk, a black boy in a tall turban, and a white boy in a sparkling crown. With one more terrified glance, Bluff took to his heels and never stopped running till he was waist-high in the non-nestic ocean. End of Chapter 15. Chapter 16 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 16 All Together at last Cabompo, Cabompo, Randy, oh my mercy, me!

Rolling to his feet, Geno tottered over to the hearth, and encountering Ginger halfway there, clasped his faithful bell-boy to his shiny glass bosom. As soon as that bell rang, I knew everything was going to be better. he puffed, and I rather expected ginger. But you? Why, my dear old Guboscus, fancy meeting you here? But I don't fancy it at all, grunted Kabumpo, placing the sleeping princess,

gently down on the fisherman's bench, and glancing disgustedly round the mean little hut. How an ebb did you ever happen to be in such a place? How did you get here, and where in Oz are we anyway? "'Oh, Geniecky, you are really all right?' "'Grasping the little wizard by both arms, "'Randy examined him carefully from top to toe. "'Gabumpo and I came to see you, "'and instead of you, there was Gludwig in your castle.

"'He told us you were at the bottom of the sea, "'and after first trying to destroy us with his army, "'he flung us into the castle basement. "'There we found Ginger sealed up a big drum and we let him out. And after a while, in a way I cannot figure out at all, we find ourselves here. How did it happen? Why, Ginger brought you, of course. Releasing the little black boy from his tight embrace, Genoqui planted a huge kiss on his ebony forehead. And with a flashing grin, the slave of the bell vanished into space.

Don't worry. He's always going, but he'll come back to him. any time I ring the bell. You must all have been touching Ginger when the bell rang, so naturally when Ginger answered the bell he brought you right along. Nothing natural about it, fumed Caboompo, drawing his trunk wearily across his forehead. But you haven't told us how you got here, said Randy, bending over Plenetti to see that she had made the trip without coming to any harm. And what is that, prey?

demanded the little gin, eyeing the sleeping princess with round astonished eyes. "'Something you brought me for a present? A pretty little idol you've stolen from some heathen temple? My mercy me! What a beauty it is! I'll mount it on a ruby pedestal and worship it all the rest of my days.' "'Oh, no, Genicki, no!' Randy's voice broke, and he could not utter another word,

try as he would. In puzzled concern, the red gin turned to Kabumpo. She's not a present, but she's an idol, all right. Randy's idol, and he intends to spend the rest of his life worshipping her, if I read the signals, all right, said Kabumpo, driling. There you see the princess of another planet, old boy, and up to an hour ago she was as live and bright and happy. as any of us.

But what happened to her? Oh, my mercy! Me, another mystery! Genaqui clasped his hands in genuine distress. Well, you tell us what happened to you, and then we'll tell you what happened to her and us, offered Kabumpo. That is, if we don't die of hunger first. Hunger?

Geniecky swallowed four times in a rapid succession. Oh, my mercy, me and us, you do not even know the meaning of the word. I have not eaten a bite for seven months, but ha, ha, ha, that is all over now. With my magic dinner-bell right at hand, why should anyone be hungry? Four dinners and at once, beamed the red gin, ringing it smartly. See, my dear, I've not even forgotten you. Genieke leaned down to stroke Nina, who had hidden behind the hearth-brush when so many strangers came dropping into the hut.

This valiant knowledge and puss fought bravely in my defense, and has thereby earned herself a place in my heart and castle for all the rest of her nine natural lives. "'But first you must get back your castle,' said Kabumpo, as Genieke began dancing up and down the room. The miserable cat hugged tightly in his arms. Even Randy had to smile at that. No one could be around the little gin and stay sorrowful, and, worried as he was over Plenetti and Thun, the young king could not help feeling that now they were together everything was going to turn out right. Somehow or some way, Genochi would help them. "'Isn't this like old times?' he beamed, bustling around like a busy host, as Ginger,

with four enormous trays balanced on his head, flashed down, set an appetizing dinner before each of the company, and melted away like smoke up the chimney. For Nina, he had brought nine saucers of cream and some minced chicken. For Cabompo, a huge bowl of assorted nuts, and another bowl of cut raw vegetables, each bowl capable of replenishing itself, so that there was enough for even an elephant. For Randy and Genogee, there were the finest of roast duck dinners. So, forgetting their mean surroundings and gludwigs and wickedness, the three royal wayfarers fell to, and ate with an abandoned and gusto that would have astonished their own castle-holes and footmen. Nina, lapping up her rich and plentious viands, seemed to grow fat and content before

their very eyes. And while they dined, Genachie explained how he had been tricked by Glutwig, pulled out of the sea by Bluff, and then nearly shaken out of his jar by the surly fisherman, with the same time, had shaken out the bell and brought him assistance. "'Where is he? Wait till I get my trunk on him,' raged Cabompo, glancing sharply round the nine-sided check. Genicky, on his part, when he discovered how Gludwig had treated his friends and visitors, was no less enraged and indignant. "'Uced my very own patented trapped floor on you, did he? "'Ha, wait, I'll fix him!'

"'Beating his small hands angrily together, "'Ginicky's eyes burned with a bright red hatred.' "'Yes, we were floored, all right,' "'admitted the elegant elephant, "'pushing away his two bowls, for at last he had had enough. "'And while Randy and the Red Jee's, were finishing their suppers. He told the whole story of their journey through Oz and Ev and Ix,

of their meeting with Planetti and Thun, and the sad fate that had overtaken these loyal comrades in the Red Castle when they could no longer avail themselves of their own Vanadium Springs. Vanadium! murmured the Red Gin, resting his head in his chubby hands. I believe I could. make a substitute for that. Why, in my laboratory?

Yes, but this isn't your laboratory, sighed Randy. And however are we to get off this nine-sided island, if all the fishermen are so hateful as bluff? Ha, ha, ha, now that is the least of our troubles. Ginneke waved airily at the owner of the cottage, whose glum face had just appeared in the window. "'Ginger shall carry us back as easily as he carries the trays. "'First I shall ring the dinner-bell, then, when Ginger appears,

"'I shall hang on to his coat. "'You, Randy, must hang on to me. "'And, Camompo, bless his big heart, shall hang on to you, "'being careful to hold the princess of this other planet in his trunk. "'Oh, my mercy me! "'I'd almost forgotten the cat. scooping up Nina, Genaqui waited till the elegant elephant had lifted Plinetti in his trunk, then, taking the silver bell from his sleeve, he gave it a cheerful tinkle.

Oh, this, puffed the little gin, blowing a kiss to the glowering fisherman. This is the finest place to leave I've ever left in my whole life. Oh, my mercy, me! You and us. Here's Ginger. Hold on, everybody. We're off. And they were, sailing along as smoothly behind the little slave of the bell, as if they weighed nothing at all, and leaving Bluff running in frantic circles round his hut, for he was now more convinced than ever that this was a nightmare, or that, worse still,

he had taken entirely but his wits and senses. End of Chapter 16. Chapter 17 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 17. In the Red Jens Castle While Genie and his friends had been having all these ups and downs and hair-raising experiences,

Gludwig had passed an exceedingly pleasant and profitable evening. As his enemies had dropped into the cellar of the castle, the silver staff of Plenetti, missing him by a wide margin, had fallen harmlessly at his feet. Glutwig's army had had much to say of this terrible weapon, and picking it up, he turned it gloatingly over and over in his hands. It is true. that he had all of Jedoke's treasures and possessions, but in his whole seven months in the

castle he had not discovered a way to use any of the Red Jens' magic, nor been able to cast a single spell or transformation. This had taken half the zest out of his victory, but here he had a simple and easily managed magic weapon, or had he? Frowning suddenly, Gludwig wondered whether it only worked for the silver war maiden who had used it so disastrously against his men. Well, he would quickly find that out. Stepping to the door he whistled for the huge hound that guarded the outer passageway. As it came bounding to his side, he hurled the silver staff at its head.

As the staff struck, the hound's progress was instantly arrested, and instead of a live dog, he had a life-sized bronze with a look in the eyes that made even Gludwig turn away. But the staff did work. As it returned to his black hand, Gludwig hurried out of the throne room, rushing here and there about the castle to cast the staff again and again at his unsuspecting aides and servants. "'Are you mad?' hissed Globdo,

coming upon his brother in the act of petrifying a small boot boy? If you continue in this reckless fashion, who will do the work await upon us? Oh, I've only tried it on a dozen or so, said Gludwig, holding the staff jealously behind his back. Mind you don't overstep your authority, brother, or I might be tempted to use it on you, Chuckling wickedly at Globdow's shocked expression, Gladwig mounted to his own quarters and hastily throwing off his clothes, curled up in Genokee's sumptuous ruby-trimmed four-poster. He was too weary to descend to the cellar and deal with his enemies,

and resolving to finish him off the first thing in the morning, the miserable impostor fell asleep, Planete's magic staff, fludged tightly in his hands. While he slumbered, strange things were happening below stairs. For just as the clock in the tower told two, Ginger noiselessly set his royal passengers down in the deserted throne room and vanished away with a flashing smile. Snapping on a ruby lamp, the red chin looked around him with a long sigh of content.

Motioning for Cabompo to place the sleeping princess on his comfort, cushioned throne, he tiptoed about, touching one after another of his possessions. "'Where do you suppose he is?' whispered Randy, treading close behind him. "'I don't suppose. I know,' Genachie whispered back. "'Where would he be but in my own royal bed? Come along. We'll take him by surprise and the ears and throw him out of the window. Careful boys, stab softly. "'Confound the black-hearted scoundrel! He's been using the silver staff.' Sorrowfully the little Jen paused before the statue of his favorite dog.

"'Never mind,' comforted Randy. "'When you find a way to restore Plenetti, she'll find a way to undo this mischief, and, you know, you still have Nina.' "'Yes,' said Genachie, placing the Nolagon cat tenderly on a red cushion. Come on, then. We'll creep up on him. Nobody's around. Nobody's on guard. This should be easy. Stepping softly up the broad stair, Gobompo as lightly as any of them. The three made their way to Genokee's vast bedroom. Leave him to me, begged the elegant elephant in a fierce whisper. I'll rein his neck with my trunk. "'No, wait, I'll ring my dinner bell,' puffed Geniecky, and have Ginger carry him to the

other side of the non-nestic ocean. "'Even that wouldn't be far enough,' muttered Randy, tiptoeing over to the bed. If we just knew where he had hidden Plenetti's staff, we could turn him into a big brass monkey, for that's just what he looks like. "'Oh, I do, do I?' The unexpected interruption made them all jump. Gludwig, wakened by Cabompo's first whisper, had lain silently watching from behind his long lashes. Now, tossing back the silk covers, he sprang up, throwing the staff straight at Randy's heart.

"'Now let's see what you'll turn to,' he panted savagely. Too startled to move or act, Cabompo and Genaqui watched in fascinated. horror as the staff struck and strike it did. But instead of petrifying Randy, the rod passed like a flash of lightning through the Young King's body and returned to Gludwig's hand, leaving Randy live and lively as ever he was, lively enough, in fact, to leap forward, snatch the dangerous weapon and bring it down hard on his red-wigged head. With a thud that splintered Genike's best bed,

Glutwig fell back. "'Ha! What did I tell you?' exclaimed Randy. And indeed, the former holder of the castle in his petrified condition looked as much like a brass monkey as Randy had said he would. "'Oh, my mercy me! Oh, my, oh me!' With trembling fingers, the red gin began to feel Randy all of us. Over. With my own eyes, I saw that staff go through you, lad. Yet, here you are. No mark, no statue. I declare, I—I'm— With tears running down his nose, Genikee embraced Randy over and over.

"'Out of that bed with you?' screamed Caboompo. Out! And, winding his trunk round the rigid Ludwig, he flung him violently out of the window. As the image fell with a resounding clunk into the vegetable garden below, the elegant elephant sank on his haunches and mopped his brow with one of the red silk bedsheets. Never, never do I hope to live through such a moment again. He groaned, blowing his trunk explosively. I thought you were frozen and done for, my boy, done for. Rocking to and fro, Kabumpo blinked.

the tears out of his eyes. "'I don't understand yet why I wasn't,' admitted Randy, wriggling out of Genakey's grasp and touching the spot where the staff had struck him. "'Someone or something was protecting you,' declared the little gin, nodding his head like a mandarin. "'Do you carry any charms or talesman's against evil, my boy?' "'Not a one.' Turning out his pockets, Randy displayed a collection of knives, rubber-bangs,

coins, and the other odds and ends that a man usually stores in his pockets. Among the strange assortment were two small squat bottles, and on these Gena Kee pounced with a triumphant little crow. Why, Randy Spandy, jack a dandy, you have two bottles of my best weapon-turning elixir. How did you happen to have them? Those? Randy squinted down at the bottles in positive mystification. Oh, I must have picked them up in the cellar.

Of course I did. I remember distinctly now. Oh, Lori B. Lori B. Laurie me. Ha, ha, ha. Am I a good wizard? Or am I a good wizard?

And to think you should have happened on the very thing you'd be needing. Geniecky danced in exuberant circles. Shush. somebody's coming, routing all his belongings back into his pocket. Randy turned in alarm. Half the courtiers and servants were crowded into the doorway. And when they saw Geniecky and his friends, instead of Glutwig in the Royal apartment, they began to back away in chagrin and embarrassment.

Oh, it's all right, Geniecki waved airily. You threw in your fortunes with the wrong man, that's all. You'll find Gludwig below in the cabbages. But I forgive you. I forgive you. He added impulsively as his former mine workers began to stammer apologies and excuses. Go back to your beds now, but see that breakfast is on time and hot and appetizing. With an impatient nod of his head, Genoqui dismissed them, and looking very downcast and crestfallen, they hurried away.

It was the long time before the Red Jin and his rescuers could bring themselves to retire. There was so much to talk of, to wonder over, and to plan. But finally even Randy acknowledged that he was sleepy, and confident that Genaqi would find some way to help Plenetti and Thun in the morning. He curled up on a small red sofa and fell into a peaceful slumber. As for Cabompo, he stretched out on the floor, and Genachy, not caring to occupy a bed, so recently slept in by Gludwig, made himself comfortable on a bare rug beside the elegant elephant,

enjoying the first real rest he had had in seven long months. End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 18. Red Jen restored. Word of his return had quickly spread through the Red Gen's vast dominions, and when Genie and his guests descended next morning, a whole loyal Black Legion were cheering from the

courtyard and lined up along the shore. After Gludwig had seized the castle and enslaved the household, the rest of the natives had fled for their lives, refusing to stay or acknowledge the Redwigged impostor as their ruler. Now that Genaqui was restored and safely at home again, their joy knew no bounds. Appearing briefly on one of the castle balconies, the Red Jen made one of his best and merriest speeches, telling of his experiences and assuring his faithful flock that Glutwick was gone and would trouble them no more. To prove his statement, he pointed to the fallen figure in the cabbage patch. Globdo, fearing Genike's anger, had already left for an unknown destination, and now there

was nothing to do but restore the kingdom to its former cheerful status and prosperity. While the Red Gen, Cabompo and Randy and Nina breakfasted happily on the terrace, a willing delegation marched off to the ruby mines to release Alibble, the courtiers, and servants from their long servitude. The miners who had taken their place in the castle and army were only too willing to return to the mines, far with Genachy back in power. Their hours were short, their wages high, and each miner had his own cozy cottage and garden. The petrified miners who had served in the army that issued out to capture Randy and Cabompo

were stood along the highway to act as signposts and also as warnings to all of the hard fate awaiting those who were, lent their ears to treachery and their arms to rebellion. Randy could hardly contain himself while all these necessary matters were attended to. The young monarch spent nearly all his time arranging and rearranging the cushions on Genokee's throne, where Plenetti still lay in complete beauty and insensibility. Gabonpo was almost as bad, pacing anxiously between the throne and the terrace where the sun had been carried by fifty interested blacks. Even if I cannot bring them back to life in activity,

they are a handsome addition to any castle, puffed Genikey, sinking down at last on one of his red lacquer sofas, and fanning himself rapidly with his lid. Oh, my mercy, me! Don't look at me that way, my boy! Of course I'll do my best and double best. But suppose my best is not good enough. "'Oh, it will be,' declared Cabompo, giving the red gin a little pat on the back with his trunk.

"'I'll bet on your red magic any day in the year. Look at the way that elixir saved Randy from the magic staff. Where is Plenetti's staff, by the way? Sort of dangerous to leave it about.' "'It's locked up safely in my iron cabinet,' said Genoqui, closing one eye. "'So you really think I'm good, old?' Kovaskis? Better even than the Wizard of Oz, eh? Oh, much, asserted the elegant elephant, waggling his head positively.

All right, then, leave me, leave me, begged the Red Jen, fairly pushing them out of the throne room. I've ordered all my magic brought to me here, and I'll stay till this pretty little princess and her charger come out of this metal trance. My mercy me! trance in trance in trancing oh ha ha ha ha ha ha i've an idea there my boys bouncing off the sofa jennikey skipped over to the princess of another planet oh kabumpo do you really think he has whispered randy as he and the elegant elephant hurried through the door of the throne room and closed it softly behind them End of Chapter 18. Chapter 19 of the Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 19. Red Magic

The hours Randy and Cabompo spent waiting for Genokey to summon them to his throne room were the longest and most anxious they had ever endured. Even if he does restore them, groaned Randy, pacing feverishly up and down one of the garden paths, he'll have to send them straight back to another planet. Rumpling up his hair, he looked wildly back at the elegant elephant who was just behind him. And if they go, declared the young king in a desperate voice, I warn you, Camombo, I shall jump on thunds back and go with them. What, and leave me?

gasped the elegant elephant, putting back his ears. "'And your kingdom and friends and all your responsibilities? No, no, Randy, this won't do. Besides, you'd probably perish in that outlandish metal wilderness, with nothing to eat in no place to rest your head. You can't do it, my boy, and furthermore I won't let you.' Snatching Randy up in his trunk, he held him as tightly as if he were already running away

instead of threatening to do so. In the course of this bitter argument, and as the young monarch began pummeling Camumpo futilely with his fists, they were both lifted bodily into the air and set swiftly down in the red throne room. The master has good news for you, explained Ginger. Look! With this flashing white grin,

the little bell-boy pointed to the throne itself, and then, as was his want, inexplicably vanished. What he saw made Randy rush forward and fling both arms round the red gin's neck. Oh, you did it, you really did it! He cried embracing Geniki all over again. How can I ever thank you enough? Where am I?

Murmured the clear, silvery voice that Cabompo and Randy knew so well. Oh, what a netta-firm. netteful castle. Randy, Randy, and there you are, big bumpo and thun. But how did we come out of that debasement? Without bothering to answer, Randy seized Plenetti's hands, and looked and looked at her as if he were never going to stop. You're the same, and yet different, he mused,

scarcely able to believe what he saw. and Thun is the same yet different too. I am Thun, the Thundercult now, then and always, announced Thun, and gave a frightened jump, for he had actually spoken the words at the same time they were spiraling up into a sparkling sentence over his head. Oh, Princess, Princess! He whinnied joyously. Do you hear? Do you see?

I can talk, I can hear, I can see and hear myself talking. At each word, Thun gave an ecstatic bound, and then began racing madly round and round the throne room, in and out between the red pillars, leaping over chairs and tables, in a positively hair-raising fashion. Oh, my, oh my mercy me, faltered Genaqui, and scooping up the non-agon cat. He jumped up on a red tabaret. Stop him, somebody, stop him. Whoa there. Come back here, Thun. Come back. We want to look at you.

Running after the Thundercult, Randy caught him by his plumy tail, and hung on till he actually did stop. And he doesn't make a sound when he gallops. Not a sound, marveled Genokey, edging nervously over to his throne and taking a seat beside him. Plenetti. Hey, sound would soundless steed. Ha, ha, ha. And do not mind his breath, Randy. It cannot burn you now.

It's cold fire, and will not sing a thing. But how did you do it? demanded Cabompo, touching Plenetti lightly with his trunk. Oh, partly by my red incense. Partly by my red reanimating rays, and partly by an old incantation against entrancering. explained Genikee, as Randy brought Thun back and handed him over to Plenetti. "'Do you feel all right now, my dear, and as beautiful as you look?'

"'Oh, yes, oh, very yes,' answered Plenetti, smiling shyly round at the Red Gen. "'And you, I know it now. You must be the wizard so wonderful of Ev.' "'Wonderful, wonderful. Well, I should say, hey, Hooray! Randy threw his crown in the air and caught it wonderful enough to save himself and us too. Oh, so many things have happened, Plenetti, since you and Thun turned to cold metal in that awful cellar. I must make a note, muttered Jinnaki, patting Thun rather cautiously on the neck. I must make a note to clean and cheer up that cellar. My, mercy!

Me! I haven't been down there for years! And if I never see it again, it will still be too soon, grunted Kaboompo, leaning up against a red pillar. Look, Genaqui. He muttered out of a corner of his mouth as Randy and Plenetti moved over to one of the windows, and Randy began to tell the little princess all that had happened on Nologon Isle, and Thun began kicking up his heels and talking to himself just for the fun of the thing. "'Look, will these two have to go straight back to their own planet?'

"'That is what is worrying me,' Genaqui said, speaking behind one hand and patting his hound, also released from its enchantment with the other. "'I managed to reawake and reanimate them, but as you probably noticed, they are changed. Most certainly they are alive, but no longer of living metal. see? The girl's hair is no longer a fine spun metal strands, but is real hair, still silvery in color, and her skin retains its iridescent sheen, but I'm very much afraid, as things are, that the princess and her coat are unfitted for life on that far and rigorous planet of theirs.

Yes, Gena Kine nodded his head emphatically. I'm very much afraid they'll have to content themselves down here, and live, Eden, behave, generally as natives of Oz or Ev." "'What?' trumpeted Kabumpo so fiercely. Nina jumped out of Genike's arms and hid under the Red Throne. "'Oh, say it again!' he begged, swallowing convulsively. "'Great Gump, why this is the best news I've heard since you've come up out of the sea.' "'You mean they won't care?' exclaimed the Red Gin, rubbing his palms nervously together.

care spluttered kabumpo waving his trunk toward the small red sofa where randy and plenetti sat in rapt and earnest conversation they care for nothing but each other old fellow right there my dear wizard sits the future queen of regalia or i'm a blue-bearded nanny-goat oh my mercy me you don't say oh ha ha ha ha ha how delightful why this calls for a celebration A feast and a fiesta! Beaming with interest and benevolence, Genaqui banged on the side of his throne with both fists and his elbows. "'Prepare a feast!' he ordered breathlessly, as Alibabaul, his grand advisor, entered in a calm and dignified manner,

showing no ill effects from his long months of servitude in the ruby minds. "'Prepare a feast, old tollywag. There's to be a wedding with rings, bells, palms, presents, and all the fruity fixings? A wedding? Alibaba looked sternly at his master, whom he instantly suspected of being the groom. Then as a red gin, grinning wickedly waved to the engrossed pair on the red sofa, he nodded briefly.

In that event, he remarked, backing rapidly away as he spoke, I earnestly advise your majesty to have a haircut. Oh, my mercy me! "'Did you hear that?' screamed the gin. As he turned to Gobumpo, his face very red and angry. "'I certainly did,' roared the elegant elephant, giving Genaqui a playful little push. "'Hasn't changed a bit, has he?

And neither have you. The last time I was in this castle, he was advising the very same thing.' "'That's all he ever thinks of,' fumed Genenike, fingering his long locks lovingly. Then, as his eye rested again on the happy little princess and the prancing thundercult, his expression grew milder. "'Randy! Randy!' he called, jerking his thumb imperiously at his royal guest. "'See here, my boy!' he explained, puffing out his cheeks importantly as Randy came to stand beside the throne.

I have done my part to save your little princess, and now you must do yours. Unfortunately, Genike's face grew long and dolorous. Unfortunately, Planeti and Thun from this time on will be unable to exist on another planet. So now, without a home or country, what will become of them? In mock distress, the Red Jin stared down at his young. young friend. Oh, Geniecky! How wonderful! Oh, Geniki, do you mean it? Thank you, thank you, thank you. Pressing the little Jen's hands, Randy went racing across the throne room. Plenetti! He whispered breathlessly in the little princess's ear. How would you like to be the

queen of regalia to go back to Oz with Thun, Kabumpo, and me, and live in my castle for always? Oh, I think. Planetti's soft yellow eyes fairly dense with surprise and happiness. I think that would be very night. Oh, Randy, that would be netiful, netiful. End of chapter 19. Chapter 20 of the silver princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain.

Chapter 20. King and Queen of Regalia. The feast to celebrate Randy's and Plenetti's wedding was the grandest and merriest in all the merry annals of Oz and Ev. It was, in fact, a double celebration. The Red Jens return and his victory over Gludwig was enough to keep his subjects cheering for days and to honor his rescuers, and especially the little princess of another planet, and her royal consort, The Evians outdid themselves, putting on one show after another. There were parades and pageants, fireworks and speeches,

and so many presents and parties it made me jealous just to think of them. Over and over again, Plenetti and Thun rejoiced in their new life and way of living, and eating the delicacies prepared by Genozy's chef was not the least of his privileges. In the Red Jens' castle, eating was a pleasure as well as a necessity. But after a month's merry stay, during which every point of interest in Genokey's vast realm was visited, the travelers bade the little gin a hearty and affectionate adieu. Mounting Camumpo and Thun and laden with gifts and good wishes, the young king and queen sat out for the land of Oz and their own royal castle.

Uncle Hootifu had already received his instructions, and as Randy had predicted, things were very gay, very different and very cozy in that regal and mountainous little kingdom. Plenetti's staff, powerful as ever, was the great help and protection to the young rulers, and the small red-hand bag that packed itself went on many journeys with the little queen of the country. If this story were beginning instead of ending, I could tell you a whole book of adventures they had traveling with Cabompo and thund through the great land of Oz. For these days the elegant elephant spends almost as much time with Randy and Plenetti as he does with the royal family of Pumperdink, and most of it in travel.

And in Oz, what a gay way one travels. The other morning, as I lay dreaming of the mob. I got to thinking how night it would be if the horses on milkwagons here were all soundless gallopers like thun. End of Chapter 20. End of The Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plummy Thompson.