Fantasy fiction; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
"Give me time," muttered Mombi, casting uneasy glances from one to the
other. "The formula should have restored the King, but something went
wrong. I must have more time."
"Here, take it." Stumbling across the room, Humpy pressed a dollar
watch into the old witch's hands. "Here's all the time in the world,"
said the dummy dolefully, "but don't ask _me_ to be King again. Let
Kabumpo sit on the throne and see how he likes it."
Turning his back upon the company, Humpy began to run after Tora's
ears. Fastened together by the tailor's spectacles, they were flapping
wildly around the apartment. Pajuka groaned and covered his eyes with
his wing, for the honest goose could not bear to see his old master
conducting himself so foolishly.
"Well, what shall I do with her?" Kabumpo shook Mombi again and snapped
his eyes angrily at Dorothy.
"She got us into this trouble and now she must get us out," decided the
little girl wisely. "Do you think you can?"
The old witch nodded and, at a sign from Dorothy, Kabumpo let her go,
at the same time keeping a close guard upon her. Mombi, it must be
confessed, was as surprised at the fall of the castle as anyone else,
nor could she account for the failure of the magic formula. Hemmed in a
corner by the gigantic Kabumpo, she began mumbling in magic and making
queer passes in the air just to gain time.
Dorothy watched anxiously, but Snip, who had already had an idea of his
own, tiptoed across the room and picked up Mombi's basket. In a sudden
flash Snip recalled the skyward flight of the cats in Catty Corners.
Was there any more of the marvelous baking powder? Tumbling everything
out of the basket, Snip fumbled hurriedly among its contents and with a
little cry of triumph found what he was looking for--a small purple can
of the magical powder. And, better still, printed in Mombi's crooked
writing, were the directions for its use. This is what Snip read:
"To raise hair--one drop in water.
"To raise the roof--one pinch down the chimney.
"To raise the rent--five teaspoons full in vinegar.
"To raise a castle or city empty entire contents of can on spot
desired. Sprinkle with water and count ten."
Seizing a flower vase from a nearby stand, Snip dumped out the powder
and moistened it from the vase. Then, hardly daring to think what would
happen, the little button boy began to count.
With a roar as sudden and frightful as when it had fallen, the castle
shot upward, gaining speed as it went, up, up, up, till the dark earth
was left far below and the massive structure stood on its rightful
foundations again.
How Ozma and her friends were caught upon its roof, we already know,
for Snip had set off the powder, just as the Little Queen flung herself
upon the grass to weep.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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