Fantasy fiction; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
While Trot and the Scarecrow helped Herby pick up his pill boxes,
Ozma, noticing the worried expression of Prince Philador, bade him
come nearer and tell what was troubling him. Philador, dropping on
one knee before the throne, thought he had never seen a gentler little
fairy than the Queen of all Oz. Feeling a bit shy in the presence of so
great and grand a company he arose and told the whole story of Mombi's
enchantments and Quiberon's cruelty and of his flight on the blue gull
to the hut of Tattypoo.
Ozma and her advisers were not only astonished at the little Prince's
troubles, but alarmed and distressed by the unexplainable disappearance
of the good witch.
"As soon as Philador tells us the rest of his story, we will look for
Tattypoo in the magic picture," murmured Ozma, "and also for the Queen
of the Ozure Isles."
"I'd like a chance at that monster," blustered Sir Hokus, who was
a famous dragon slayer, "and myself and sword are at your service,
Princeling!"
Philador smiled gratefully at the Good Knight of Oz and, helped out by
Trot and the Scarecrow, told how he had released the medicine man from
his bottle--of his visit to the King of the Uplanders--his meeting with
High Boy--and their adventures with Trot and her friends in Shutter
Town. Then Trot told her story, about Benny and his strange coming to
life, his drop to Oz and their frightful experiences in Cave City.
During the telling of both stories, the Wizard of Oz made hurried notes
in his little black book and, as Trot finished, he bounced out of his
seat like a rubber ball.
"Your Highness," began the Wizard, looking over his specs at the little
fairy ruler, "I have jotted down for your convenience the problems to
be solved and the mysteries to be accounted for. First, we must find
the Queen of the Ozure Isles and restore her to her subjects. Secondly,
we must undo as much of Mombi's mischief as we can; destroy Quiberon,
punish the bird-man who carried Trot to the monster's cave and restore
the medicine man to himself."
At this Herby shook his head violently. "I prefer to remain as I am,"
declared Herby stoutly. "I am entirely satisfied with my medicine
chest."
Ozma smiled at Herby's earnestness and the Wizard drew his pencil
through that entry.
"We must then find Tattypoo," continued the little man seriously, "and
change Benny to a real person, as a reward for his services to Philador
and Trot."
"How about a little yummy jummy?" wheezed High Boy, who was sitting on
his haunches with both ears cocked forward.
[Illustration: THE WIZARD OF OZ]
"Why you're a fellow after my own heart," purred the Hungry Tiger,
crawling out from under a huge green sofa. "This good beast is hungry.
Let's all have something to eat," he proposed, licking his chops and
waving his tail gently from side to side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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